Returning to the top international stage after lifting both the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup last season, Chelsea looked up for the challenge in the opening stages, having particular joy through Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer on the right-hand side.
But Bayern, who went unbeaten in 16 successive UCL home matches until losing to Inter in last season’s quarter-finals, started to find their feet, and Harry Kane headed over in the lead-up to the opener.
Michael Olise wreaked havoc on the right and sent a teasing ball into the six-yard box, where Trevoh Chalobah couldn’t avoid kneeing into his own net.
Bayern’s pressure didn’t let up, leading to Kane drawing a penalty after tussling with Moises Caicedo in the area.
The Englishman dusted himself off to find the bottom right for his 24th goal in 25 attempts from the spot for Bayern.
The hosts hadn’t really played that well in accruing that healthy advantage, so it seemed justified when Chelsea pulled one back just moments later.
Palmer received it on the halfway line and raced towards the Bayern box, before exchanging a one-two with Gusto and stroking it into the top corner.
Chelsea appeared to have carried that momentum into the second half, but they couldn’t make the most of it and allowed Bayern back on the front foot.
Two brilliant saves from Robert Sanchez from Kane and Olise kept the Blues in it, but the Spaniard was powerless to stop the former from finding the bottom corner after he pounced onto Gusto’s loose pass.
Enzo Maresca made substitutions in an attempt to salvage something, but it showed his side’s luck was truly out when Palmer was ruled marginally offside when touching in Andrey Santos’ pass.
The win continues Bayern’s 100% record in competitive fixtures to begin the season, and will give Vincent Kompany hope that his side can do better than their UCL quarter-final exits in five of the last six seasons.
Chelsea became the first side to score at this venue this campaign, but their first trip outside of London this term ultimately didn’t go Maresca’s way.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)