Cole Palmer is expected to return to Chelsea’s starting lineup when they face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener tonight.
Palmer’s only previous start this season came in the 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
He then suffered a groin injury that saw him miss wins over West Ham and Fulham, as well as England’s latest round of World Cup qualifiers.
After one-and-a-half training sessions, Palmer was fit to appear from the bench at Brentford on Saturday night, where he scored Chelsea’s first goal in a 2-2 draw.
Enzo Maresca will throw him back in from the start at the Allianz Arena, which could mean Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte, who made his debut at Brentford, dropping out of the team.
Marc Cucurella is also expected to reprise his left-back role after only coming on at half-time at the weekend. At right-back, Wesley Fofana will also likely make way, with either Reece James or Malo Gusto in line to start against Bayern.
Estevao has travelled with the squad and could return to the starting line-up if he has recovered from the illness that kept him out of the short trip to Brentford.
Joao Pedro will lead the line despite not being 100 per cent fit ahead of that match.
Striker Liam Delap is out until December with a hamstring injury, while Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are expected back very soon.
Dario Essugo has a thigh injury which required surgery and his return to action could come in 2026.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
Doubts: Estevao
Injured: Badiashile, Lavia, Colwill, Delap, Essugo
Unavailable: Mudryk
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday September 17, 2025
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
How to watch: TNT Sports
