The 2025/26 club season has got back underway after the September international break and now we have the UEFA Champions League returning with the 36-team league phase once again.
Defending German champions Bayern Munich have started their Bundesliga campaign in impressive style, backing up a DFL-Supercup triumph by winning all three opening games thus far, scoring 14 goals in the process.
Chelsea, after winning the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup over the summer, had a very short pre-season as a result and they have collected eight points from their opening four Premier League matches.
The Sporting News now brings you the latest tips and odds between the six-time European champions and the reigning UEFA Conference League champions at the Allianz Arena this week.
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea prediction
Enzo Maresca has a very deliberate style of football that can, for neutrals and even Chelsea supporters, often be fairly tedious to watch, even when it is at its effective best.
Bayern Munich will try and play with a bit more energy and a bit more on the front foot, but there is a concern about Vincent Kompany’s sides having a bit of a glass jaw whenever they come up against a side with a semblance of quality and attacking cohesion.
That said, in Bavaria, they should still come out on top.
The Sporting News Score Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-2 Chelsea
- Bayern Munich and Chelsea are both among the favourites to win the UEFA Champions League this season.
- Enzo Maresca’s visitors are also ranked as one of the likeliest Premier League title winners this year.
- Nicolas Jackson could play for Bayern, having joined on loan from Chelsea at the end of the summer transfer window.
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea lineups
Here's how we think these two sides this weekend. Vincent Kompany is still unlikely to deploy Jackson from the start, despite the shallow Bayern squad, especially in attack.
Cole Palmer could make a first start since the opening day of the campaign, having returned from injury off the bench at Brentford at the weekend.
Bayern Munich predicted lineup to play Chelsea
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
- Neuer (GK) — Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro — Kimmich, Goretzka — Olise, Gnabry, Luis Diaz — Kane
Injured: Ito, Davies, Musiala
Suspended: None
Chelsea predicted lineup to play Bayern Munich
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
- Sanchez (GK) — James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella — Moises Caicedo, Fernandez — Neto, Palmer, Alejandro Garnacho — Joao Pedro
Injured: Badiashile, Lavia, Essugo, Estevao (doubt, illness)
Suspended: Mudryk
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea latest odds, correct score betting
Bayern Munich are the favourites for this one, with best odds of 1.66 with Dafabet. The draw is priced up at 4.40 with the bookmaker, whilst Chelsea are underdogs at 4.80.
Our 3-2 prediction is at best odds of 19.00 with Parimatch but here's the best available odds for five of the other most likely results.
Result | Odds* | Bet with |
Bayern Munich 2-1 | 8.00 | |
Draw 1-1 | 8.00 | |
Bayern Munich 1-0 | 9.50 | |
Bayern Munich 2-0 | 9.00 | |
Bayern Munich 3-1 | 11.00 |
*Click odds to bet direct with our selected partners. Odds correct at time of publish.
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea team news
- Nicolas Jackson did come off the bench against Hamburg at the weekend, but he will have to go some to displace Harry Kane in the side. The England captain has now scored nine goals in seven games for club and country this season.
- Serge Gnabry is playing well in the attacking midfield role for Bayern, with Michael Olise playing out on the right, whilst Jamal Musiala recovers from injury.
- Chelsea, as mentioned, welcomed Cole Palmer back off the bench at the weekend and he could well now start for the Blues in place of the doubtful Estevao.
- Alejandro Garnacho could make his full debut on the left-wing for Chelsea, ahead of former Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on that side.
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea betting tips
Bayern's first five outings of the season across all competitions have been nothing short of goal-fests, averaging a remarkable 4.8 strikes per game.
Chelsea’s early road trips have also been packed with action, with both of their opening two away fixtures in the Premier League cashing in on the Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals market, making that combo the smart play here at 1.72 with Parimatch.
Harry Kane, meanwhile, has picked up right where he left off. After bagging 41 goals in 51 appearances last season, the England skipper has already netted eight times in just five matches this term.
That tally includes a hat-trick against RB Leipzig on Bundesliga's opening weekend and a brace versus Hamburg. Backing him to score anytime looks tempting at 1.75, while Over 1.5 goals in the match is similarly appealing at 1.72 with Parimatch.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea: Live stream, TV channel
- Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
- Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
- Time & TV/Stream: 12:30 a.m. IST | Sony Sports Network