"The Allianz Arena will always hold cherished memories for Chelsea but when they pick through the wreckage of their first night back in the Champions League there will be plenty of moments that they would probably rather not have to think about again. Back at the ground where they became European champions for the first time, there was the brief prospect of the team in blue pulling off another unlikely heist in Bavaria. Yet while there was defiance after Bayern Munich went 2-0 up, Cole Palmer halving the deficit, the problems at the other end were too great for Chelsea to overcome."
"There were too many mistakes from Enzo Maresca's young side exposing their inexperience after a two-year absence from this competition, and ultimately that was always likely to prove fatal given that Bayern had Harry Kane ready to remind Premier League opposition of his ruthlessness in front of goal. Even Palmer could not steal centre stage from Kane. The England captain was exceptional, punishing errors from Malo Gusto and Moises Caicedo to take his tally in the Champions League to 42 goals in 58 appearances. The numbers are ridiculous."
"Maresca's decision to use the formula that flummoxed Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final made sense. The deployment of Reece James alongside Caicedo added ballast in midfield, freeing Enzo Fernandez to push forward, and the hope for Chelsea was that Palmer could repeat his heroics against PSG from his floating role on the right. Chelsea did not park the bus. They had poise in possession and a plan to probe at Bayern's high line."
Chelsea returned to the Champions League at the Allianz Arena but suffered defeats shaped by costly defensive errors and inexperience. Bayern Munich took a 2-0 lead before Cole Palmer reduced the deficit, yet Chelsea could not recover. Harry Kane exploited mistakes from Malo Gusto and Moises Caicedo, extending his Champions League tally to 42 goals in 58 appearances and demonstrating clinical finishing. Enzo Maresca fielded a setup with Reece James alongside Caicedo to provide midfield balance and allow Enzo Fernandez to push forward, and Chelsea showed intent in possession by probing Bayern's high line.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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