Chelsea claimed Europe’s highest honor in Kyiv on Saturday night, defeating Bayern Munich 1–0 in a Champions League final that balanced on a knife’s edge until the final whistle.
The breakthrough came just after halftime. In the 48th minute, Pele found the decisive goal, a strike that underlined his influence throughout the evening. His performance, measured in both control and composure, set the tempo for Chelsea in a match where margins were tight.
Bayern never settled into rhythm. Their best chances were fleeting, and when they did push forward, Chelsea’s defensive structure held firm. Patrick Wolfgang Brunnhuber’s yellow card in the 51st minute reflected a growing frustration within Bayern’s ranks. By the numbers, the imbalance was stark: Chelsea generated 1.88 expected goals to Bayern’s 0.32.
Still, the closing moments offered tension. In stoppage time, Chelsea substitute Paul Malcolm had the chance to extend the lead from the penalty spot. His miss, however, left the stadium caught in suspense. Bayern pushed, but never broke through.
Chelsea goalkeeper Joby Holwell kept a clean sheet with quiet assurance, while Bayern’s Moshe Lazarovich produced the kind of performance—rated at 8.0—that spared his side a heavier defeat. Yet the evening belonged to Pele, whose strike crowned Chelsea’s campaign and sealed their place at the summit of European football.
At the NSC Olimpiyskiy, the night ended with blue ribbons on the trophy. For Chelsea, it was another chapter of triumph. For Bayern, a reminder of how narrow the margins can be at football’s sharpest edge.