Chelsea 1-3 Bayern Munich LIVE: Rafinha and Muller on target, Alonso pulls one back

HT: Just seen a few replays of Bayern Munich’s opener. It does look like Thibaut Courtois could have done better, but he didn’t stand a chance with Thomas Muller’s strikes.

HT: CHELSEA 1 – 3 BAYERN MUNICH (Rafhina, Muller x 2, Alonso)

47: CHELSEA 1 – 3 BAYERN MUNICH – ALONSO

It’s been coming for a few minutes, and Chelsea have finally got their reward courtesy of Marcos Alonso.

Victor Moses supplied the cross from the byline, and Alonso produces a sublime left-footed finish to beat the goalkeeper from just inside the area.

Full-back to full-back? It’s a Fantasy Football manager’s heaven…

46: Close! Gary Cahill rises above his marker but his powerful header fizzes over. I don’t know where this Chelsea have been hiding for 45 minutes.

45: Chelsea have woken up. After some neat build-up play, Marcos Alonso drifts his effort narrowly over the bar. Much Batshuayi follows that with a strike of his own, which is expertly saved by Tom Starke. Not bad for a 36-year-old…

43: These are also the games where Cesc Fabregas can look a little exposed with his lack of fight in midfield. Nemanja Matic, who’s also expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, would provide more energy and steel to this side. Too late to ask him to stay?

40: Are these the kind of games where Diego Costa would make all the difference? We’ve seen the Spanish striker grab games by the scruff of the neck in the past – but that’ll be left to Alvaro Morata now.

37: Nope. Willian lines it up but his ambitious effort slams against the wall.

36: Gary Cahill is left with no option but to hack down James Rodriguez, who’s looked very impressive. Not sure why Real Madrid binned him on this basis. Positive play by Boga who wins a free-kick in a decent position. Could this be the spark Chelsea need…

33: Hopefully Antonio Conte used that drinks break to pass on some tactical instructions. Cesc Fabregas picks out Boga but Tom Starke raced off his line to make the save.

30: Time for a drinks break in these sweltering conditions, but only one team have earned them. I think you can guess who…

27: CHELSEA 0 – 3 BAYERN MUNICH – MULLER

Another update, another goal for Bayern Munich. They’re running riot!

Once again, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso are caught too far forward, and Thomas Muller punishes them in spectacular fashion.

Bayern find the German legend in a central position in the final third, and he smashes a 25-yard strike into the top corner.

I know it’s only pre-season, but this is getting embarrassing now.

26: Willian charges forward to try and create a spark, but he’s got very few options and drags his effort wide.

24: Not many teams have toyed with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, but that’s exactly what Bayern Munich are doing here. They’re patiently passing it around and waiting for the moment to deliver the killer ball.

21: Oh. My. Word. Bayern are tearing Chelsea apart. Cesc Fabregas sloppily loses possession in a dangerous area and it’s crossed to James Rodriguez, whose volley flies over the bar. Should be 3-0.

18: Gary Cahill does well to intercept James Rodriguez’s cross but Bayern are back in possession. I still can’t believe Franck Ribery is 34-years-old, he’s never looked better!

15: Chelsea were guilty of ball-watching and not closing the German champions down for those two goals. The finger will be pointed at Azpilicueta for allowing Ribery to beat him, but Marcos Alonso should have tracked Muller.

11: CHELSEA 0 – 2 BAYERN MUNICH – MULLER

Ouch! This could get embarrassing. Ribery beats Azpilicueta down the left flank, plays an outrageous rabona cross to the back post where Muller is waiting to volley home.

8: Bayern Munich have their tails up now. Wouldn’t be surprised if they added a second.

5: CHELSEA 0 – 1 BAYERN MUNICH – RAFHINA

Wow, that wasn’t in the script.

Rafinha has scored one hell of a goal to give Bayern Munich the lead within five minutes.

The attacker was allowed to roam forward by Boga, and he took full advantage by blazing a 25-yard shot past the outstretched Thibaut Courtois.

3: Chelsea have started like a train, and I don’t mean a Southern Rail train. The Blues are pressing nicely and aren’t giving Bayern Munich a second’s peace. Cesc Fabregas helps Renato Sanches to his feet after catching the Portuguese as he challenged for the ball.

1: CHELSEA 0 – 0 BAYERN MUNICH

Michy Batshuayi gets us underway folks.

11:33: We were expecting this to be a full house but there’s plenty of empty seats around the stadium. The players get a great reception from the fans as they emerge from the tunnel.

11:29: The match is scheduled to begin at 12:35, but there’s no real movement out on the pitch aside from a month’s worth of water being sprayed around the pitch.

11:27: Just a quick reminder of those starting XI’s…

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Willian, Batshuayi, Boga.

Bayern Munich XI: Starke, Hummels, Ribery, Martinez, Lewandowski, Rodriguez, Rafinha, Tolisso, Muller, Friedl, Sanches.

12:25: Ben Cullimore on Twitter: “It’s good to see Christensen get handed a start against Bayern Munich today. Let’s hope Chelsea make proper use of him this season.” I wouldn’t hold your breath, Ben.

12:20: Carlo Ancelotti’s side haven’t been enjoying the International Champions Cup. They lost their opening game against Arsenal on penalties, and were thumped 4-0 by AC Milan over the weekend.

I know, I know, it’s only pre-season…

12:15: How to describe Singapore National Stadium… It’s massive and has an extremely fancy roof, which is retractable. Oh, and it’s also got a cooling system that’s better than aircon. Consider yourself clued-up…

12:10: We’ve just spotted Antonio Rudiger wearing his Chelsea tracksuit. He’s arrived at the stadium and working with the fitness coach, although he’s NOT part of today’s squad.

12:00: If you haven’t heard, Chelsea have sent defender Kenedy home from their pre-season tour.

The Brazilian will play no further part in the tour of Asia after causing outrage with his social media posts.

He put two videos on Instagram, one with a caption which translated as “F*** you China” and another of a security guard asleep which was tagged: “Wake up China. You idiot.”

11:50: It’s a pretty strong selection from the Italian tactician with Willian, Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kante all starting.

But there’s a light sprinkling of youth.

The most notable inclusion is academy graduate Jeremie Boga, who’s filling in for the injured Pedro. The lesser-spotted Andreas Christensen also starts alongside Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill in defence.

11:45: Here are the starting XI’s folks. At a glance you’ll see that Alvaro Morata is among the Chelsea substitutes for tonight’s game.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Willian, Batshuayi, Boga.

Bayern Munich XI: Starke, Hummels, Ribery, Martinez, Lewandowski, Rodriguez, Rafinha, Tolisso, Muller, Friedl, Sanches.

Subs: Ulreich, Fruchtl, Hoffman, Gotze, Alaba, Coman, Dorsch, Wintzheimer, Pantovic.

11:40: While we await the starting XI’s, I can tell you that there’s other transfer news coming from Stamford Bridge.

Bookmakers Betway have slashed the odds of Antonio Conte’s side signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal. He’s now 5/4 from 4/1.

You can always trust the bookies, right?

11:35: The players have arrived at the stadium, but we’re still waiting on that team news. You crack on with that spreadsheet and I’ll have all the information shortly…

11:30: Those starting XI’s will be announced any moment now. I’ll bring them your way shortly.

11:25: Death, taxes and Jim White spreading transfer rumours – those are the three certainties in life folks.

His latest offering is that Antonio Conte still wants to sign another FOUR players this summer.

He’s already added Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko to his ranks, but could swoop for Alex Sandro, Antonio Candreva, Fernando Llorente and Virgil van Dijk.

Let me know who you think would be the best signing on today’s poll.

11:20: Chelsea did a number on Arsenal over the weekend, thumping Arsene Wenger’s side 3-0 with goals from Willian and Michy Batshuayi.

They already look in fine fettle, and another victory against a star-studded Bayern Munich would look ominous for their title rivals.

11:15: Good morning pre-season addicts, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Chelsea’s clash with German champions Bayern Munich.

I’m assuming most of you are here to follow Alvaro Morata’s debut, and NOT because you’re avid fans of the International Champions Cup…

I don’t think he’s going to start, but Antonio Conte revealed he would feature at some point in his press conference yesterday.

PREVIEW

Express Sport brings you LIVE International Champions Cup updates

Chelsea v Bayern Munich: New signing Alvaro Morata is in line to make his debut

Spain international Pedro sustained multiple fractures after a heavy collision with goalkeeper David Ospina on Saturday

The match will take place at Singapore’s National Stadium, which has a capacity of 55,000

Alvaro Morata: “There are very good players here and I think we can do something amazing this year.

“It is hard to leave Madrid but it is not so hard when you come to a club like Chelsea, with these players and with this coach, and I think we can play against Real Madrid and Barcelona and win.”

Cesar Azpilicueta: “Obviously, as we are champions of the Premier League, every team we face will want to beat us more than before.

“So we know it’s going to be harder.”

Chelsea tour squad: Courtois, Caballero, Eduardo, Bulka, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Christensen, Kalas, Clarke-Salter, Tomori, Alonso, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Pasalic, Baker, Scott, Pedro, Willian, Kenedy, Musonda Jr, Boga, Batshuayi, Remy, Morata. 

Bayern Munich tour squad: Muller, Lewandowski, Rodriguez, Tolisso, Alaba, Thiago, Hummels, Ribery, Rafinha, Martinez, Coman, Bernat, Sanches, Ulreich, Starke, Fruchtl, Friedl, Gotze, Pantovic, Dorsch, Hoffman, Wintzheimer.