Harry Kane & Co. meet Chelsea. © APA/afp / ALEXANDRA BEIER

Bayern aim for perfect start in Champions League

FC Bayern kicks off the new Champions League season on Wednesday. Unlike last year, the Munich team wants to avoid the playoffs this time around.

September 17, 2025

From: apa/dpa

Club World Cup winners Chelsea will visit the Germans on Wednesday (21.00 p.m.). "It's important to finish in the top eight. Because the extra games in the playoffs can change the season," emphasized Harry Kane before the start of the league phase. Last spring, the extra games against Celtic also resulted in injuries, the Englishman added. His projection: Of the eight games, "you probably have to win six or five with a couple of draws."

Last year, Bayern earned 15 points after five wins – too few for direct advancement to the round of XNUMX. PSG, Real Madrid, and Manchester City also missed out on that. Real and City therefore met in the playoffs. Former Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge saw "a clear learning curve" among the top clubs. "The big teams have understood that they have to go full throttle from the start to reach the top eight – because that's what everyone wants."

Moises Caicedo and Alejandro Garnacho aim to annoy Bayern. © APA/afp / HENRY NICHOLLS

The German record champions have tough tasks ahead of them, with points on the road against Paris and Arsenal. A home win against Chelsea would be important. The easy 5-0 victory against Hamburger SV a week before the Oktoberfest kicked off was the ideal warm-up. The Blues, however, command respect.

"Chelsea are a really good team. They had a fantastic tournament at the Club World Cup in the USA," recalled Kane. The London team is already unbeaten in eleven matches. At the weekend, Enzo Maresca's team missed out on a win due to a late goal in a 2-2 draw with Brentford. Cole Palmer, who has recently been injured, is expected to be in the starting lineup in Munich. Striker Joao Pedro was also not fully fit against Brentford, according to Maresca.

Liverpool hottest title contender

Paris Saint-Germain begins its mission to defend its title against Atalanta. The most important change for the French club this summer was in goal. Lucas Chevalier, signed from Lille for €40 million, replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma, who subsequently moved on to Manchester City.

PSG coach Luis Enrique aims to defend the title. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

Liverpool, the bookmakers' hottest title contender after a comprehensive offensive in the transfer market, is Liverpool. The Reds, strengthened by €485 million, open their campaign at Anfield against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. The Real Madrid side have yet to find their stride in the new season. They only managed their first victory in four LaLiga matches last Saturday, with a 2-0 victory over Villarreal.

Champions League

Wednesday, September 17st:
Olympiacos Piraeus – Paphos FC (18.45)
Slavia Prague – FK Bodo Glimt
Ajax Amsterdam – Inter (21 p.m.)
FC Bayern Munich – FC Chelsea
Liverpool FC – Atletico Madrid
Paris Saint Germain – Atalanta