Kane Double Seals Bayern’s Commanding 3-1 Win

 Harry Kane starred as Bayern Munich capitalised on a series of Chelsea errors to claim a 3-1 victory at the Allianz Arena on Matchday 1 of the Champions League.

Chelsea started brightly and should have taken the lead within six minutes, but Enzo Fernández somehow missed a tap-in from Cole Palmer’s cross. That early chance would prove costly. In the 19th minute, former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise delivered a dangerous cross that Trevoh Chalobah inadvertently turned into his own net.

Just six minutes later, Chelsea’s problems deepened. A careless giveaway outside the penalty area allowed Bayern to break, and Moisés Caicedo brought down Kane inside the box. The England striker converted the resulting penalty with the composure fans had come to expect from his Tottenham days.

The game remained high tempo, and Chelsea hit back almost immediately.

A slick counterattack was sparked and finished by Palmer, who lashed Malo Gusto’s lay-off into the roof of Manuel Neuer’s net to make it 2-1. Bayern pushed to restore their cushion before the break, with Olise heavily involved, nearly assisting Konrad Laimer and then testing the Chelsea goal himself with a well-struck volley.

The second half saw Bayern assert full control. Luis Díaz, Kane, and Olise all came close, but Robert Sánchez kept Chelsea in the game with a string of excellent saves. By the hour mark, Bayern could easily have been four or five goals ahead. Their third eventually arrived in the 62nd minute, courtesy once again of Chelsea’s sloppiness. Malo Gusto’s misplaced touch handed Kane another opening, and the striker coolly tucked the ball into the bottom corner for his second of the night.

From there, Bayern managed the match comfortably. Chelsea thought they had reduced the deficit in the 88th minute when Palmer finished a brilliant pass from Estevão Willian, but the youngster was flagged offside.

For Chelsea, the 3-1 defeat will be less worrying than the manner of it. Enzo Maresca’s side were undone by their own defensive errors, and in the Champions League, even the smallest lapses are ruthlessly punished. The Blues won’t have long to dwell, however.

They face Manchester United away in the Premier League on Saturday. Maresca will demand a far more composed display, particularly from his backline in possession.