Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 1: Harry Kane scores twice but Blues rage as hosts controversially escape red card

WELCOME back to the Champions League, Chelsea – you have a long way to go.

The ‘World Champions’ were given a lesson on the stage that really matters as Harry Kane’s double helped Bayern Munich brush them aside.

Chelsea have gleefully rammed home their Club World Cup triumph since July but this is the level where the true worth of that title will be defined.

Despite an encouraging start, Trevoh Chalobah’s own goal alongside a string of silly challenges and sloppy passes handed the German hosts what was eventually a straightforward start to their European campaign.

Enzo Maresca guided his team to a Conference League title last season, playing with a second-rate squad at almost every stage.

But that is not possible here – and Chelsea struggled to match Bayern at times, even though the German champions looked ropey themselves in certain moments.

The Blues showed they could break them down, but were wasteful early on before Cole Palmer grabbed a fine first-half goal.

Such is the near-exhibition nature of these early games in the new Champions League format that the Blues’ chances of progression have taken less than a scratch.

While Bayern are being questioned at home, it was a tall order to come here after two years away from the Champions League – with the hosts having not lost a group game here since 2013.

But this was a blunt reminder of what it will take, especially after Christmas, to perform at the level Chelsea feel they belong having won the competition in this stadium 13 years ago.

Maresca chose to return to the system which saw them past European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final.

Captain Reece James was pushed into midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, and the two helped them off to what looked an impressive start.

Bayern were being restricted to hopeful strikes from the edge of the box for the majority of the first half, while Chelsea were enjoying success on the ball.

Pedro Neto just missed an early cross from Joao Pedro, while Enzo Fernandez should have had the visitors ahead when he mixed up his feet and fluffed a near tap-in after a fine Cole Palmer ball.

But just when you thought Chelsea were dispelling any worries about their lack of maturity or mentality required for this level, they cracked.

Caicedo gave away a clumsy free-kick in the middle of the Blues half, bringing down Joshua Kimmich.

After the German midfielder was told to retake after a first effort, he spread the ball wide for the excellent Michael Olise.

Chelsea twice tried to sign their former academy player from Crystal Palace before he moved to Bavaria, and here was a prime example as to why.

The Frenchman stood up to Pedro and skipped past the striker with ease, driving towards the byline and sending in a low cross which struck Chalobah and found the back of the net.

Caicedo was Chelsea’s Player of the Year last season but often walks a tightrope when it comes to challenges – and waited just five minutes to plunge them deeper into trouble.

As Kane moved to push past him in the Chelsea box, Caicedo disregarded the ball and swept his leg through the England captain in an idiotic challenge.

Kane, of course, took two deep breaths and converted from the spot – his 94th Bayern goal in 102 appearances – a tally which would edge ever close to 100 as the night went on.

Two electric forward lines were causing all sorts of problems for two equally erratic defences – with Palmer ripping through the hosts just a minute after the second goal.

After James won the ball deep in the Chelsea half, Caicedo and then Palmer were set running.

Palmer, finally given the chance of a leading role on the European stage he deserves, exchanged a one-two with Malo Gusto and swept a superb finish into the top corner.

Jonathan Tah had hauled back Pedro during the break, earning himself a booking – while Maresca was given his own by the attention-seeking referee for an explosive reaction to the challenge.

The incident had sparked mass calls for a red card online, but officials were happy to leave it at yellow.

Bayern emerged earlier than Chelsea after the interval, in the mood to boot them back to London.

The hosts should have been well clear within 15 minutes of the restart, with Robert Sanchez stopping from Luis Diaz, Kane and then – superbly – Olise.

Kane reached the byline and cut-back for the winger who looked to have a simple finish but was stopped by the Spaniard reaching low to his right to keep Bayern at bay.

That did not last much longer, however

Bayern had been battering on Chelsea’s door before Maresca’s side simply opened it for Kane to grab his second.

Chalobah played forwards to Malo Gusto, surrounded by red shirts, and his loose touch resulted in the ball careering towards his own goal and the feet of the ex-Tottenham striker.

Bayern’s No9 set himself and finished low into the far corner, taking his career tally against Chelsea into double figures.

Maresca responded by sending on Alejandro Garnacho, Andrey Santos and then Estevao Willian, but Chelsea’s confidence – and the game – had been taken away by the whirlwind start to the second half.

Bayern made themselves comfortable for the majority of the second half, passing around a Chelsea team kept largely at arm’s length.

The Blues rallied a touch late on and Palmer thought he had notched a second, prodding in from a Santos pass, though it was ruled out due to a narrow offside.