Controversial Drop Ball Decision
Chelsea supporters were left irate as referee Jose Maria Sanchez awarded Bayern Munich an unusual drop ball in a highly advantageous position during their Champions League encounter. Sanchez observed that Bayern’s free kick landed at his feet after he’d signaled the kick to be taken, but without letting Chelsea’s players know he was dropping the ball, Sanchez handed it to Bayern.
As detailed in The Pride of London’s analysis, the ref’s terrible call resulted in an own goal by Trevoh Chalobah in the 20th minute, putting Chelsea behind early. The short prep time just made the situation even worse.
Chelsea ref robbed Bayern Munich: Controversial Penalty Sparks Fury
Sanchez then rewarded Bayern with a penalty for a minimal challenge on Harry Kane, which Kane put away in the 27th minute. Detractors stated it was lucky to be obstruction, let alone a penalty. Either way, it took all of the momentum away from Chelsea that they had previously entered halftime with, down a goal despite all of the possession they had. Nevertheless, Cole Palmer would come racing down the right flank to get Chelsea back to 1-1 before halftime. Chelsea had some momentum to start the second half now.
Match Preview and Tactics
Before the game, everyone was talking about how Bayern planned to pressure their rivals and use Michael Olise and Luis Diaz on the wings to attack, as noted in Six Sports’ Bayern Munich vs Chelsea preview. Chelsea aimed to counter with midfield solidity from Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Yet, tactics for Chelsea to fight back stressed disrupting Bayern early. Injuries to Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo hampered the Blues, but Palmer’s return offered hope.
Post-Match Fallout
Bayern sealed a 3-1 win with Kane’s second goal in the 63rd minute, per media recap of Chelsea’s rough return. Marc Guiu’s goal was a bright spot, but mistakes hurt the team. The referee’s calls took center stage, which is a shame because Chelsea played hard. Bayern’s sharp play, for example, showed where the midfield needs work.
Chelsea ref robbed Bayern Munich – Author’s Insight
The events of Chelsea’s ref robbed experience against Bayern Munich emphasizes the officiating and disciplinary irregularities that exist under UEFA’s watch. Chelsea showed good signs of being in a winnable position, before a Sanchez drop ball and soft penalty turned a couple of key incidents into an eventual 3-1 loss.
Nevertheless, Palmer’s quality and Guiu’s energetic performance add to the development underneath Maresca. Conversely, the injuries are piling up for Chelsea, so they must regroup quickly. Fans want VAR, but the player’s spirit is still there. It hurts fans to lose this game despite the positives, but this loss will only add fuel to the European fire. I’m sure we’ll see a better response soon enough.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
