Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has stressed the importance of making a strong start to this season’s Champions League campaign, insisting early momentum could spare the Bavarians from added pressure later in the competition.
Last season, Bayern struggled in the inaugural league phase, finishing 12th and being forced into a knockout play-off against Celtic, which they edged 3-2 on aggregate. They went on to beat Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 before bowing out to Inter in the quarter-finals.
Vincent Kompany’s men open their 25/26 campaign at home to Chelsea on Wednesday, followed by matches against Pafos and Club Brugge. With daunting trips to reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and last season’s semi-finalists Arsenal still to come, Kane is adamant that Bayern must lay down a marker against Chelsea.
“It’s important to be in the top eight because that extra game can make a big difference,” said Kane.
“Last year, playing that Celtic game home and away in our busiest period, it made a big difference, and we ended up losing a few players after that period in March.
“It’s important to start well.”
Bayern and Chelsea have a storied history in the UEFA Champions League, with five prior encounters in the competition. Their first meeting was a quarter-final clash in the 2004/05 season, which the Blues won 6-5 on aggregate.
The most famous encounter between the two clubs came in the 2012 final held in Bayern’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena, where Chelsea famously defeated the Bavarians 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to win their first Champions League title.
Bayern exacted revenge in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, winning 7-6 on penalties after another 2-2 draw. Most recently, The Bundesliga giants dominated their Premier League counterparts in the 2019/2020 Round of 16, winning 7-1 on aggregate.
While Bayern have a superior head-to-head record with three wins to Chelsea’s one in the Champions League, the memory of the 2012 final remains a defining moment in their rivalry.
Kane himself has an outstanding record in the competition, with 40 goals and 11 assists in 57 appearances, and he is eager to add to that tally this term.
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