Chelsea made a thrilling return to Youth League action, marking our first appearance in the competition since 2022 with an exciting 3-2 away victory against Bayern Munich.

Genesis Antwi opened the scoring 15 minutes in, expertly finishing off a well-worked team move. Despite this strong start, the hosts fought back, heading into the interval with a 2-1 lead thanks to a brace from Felipe Chavez.

However, in the second half, Calum McFarlane’s side showed great resilience and determination. Shumaira Mheuka calmly slotted home the equaliser before Harrison Murray-Campbell secured a memorable comeback with a late winner, clinching all three points for Chelsea.

Now, attention turns to our first home fixture of the European campaign as we welcome Benfica - the 2021/22 UEFA Youth League champions - to Cobham on Tuesday afternoon.

The Portuguese side have started brightly, just like us, scoring seven goals against Qarabag in their opening match of the competition.

Ahead of the 3pm kick-off, we caught up with McMahon, who played a key role in our opening win and has been an influential figure for McFarlane’s side throughout the 2025/26 season so far.

'Every game is a big one!' said the 19-year-old. 'We got off to a strong start in the campaign with that result away at Bayern Munich, so the boys are feeling confident.

'But we know we can’t get complacent, as Benfica are a top side,' McMahon explained. 'They’ve actually won the Youth League before, so we’re fully aware of the level they’re at.

'It’ll definitely be a tough match, and probably a very close one, but we’re aiming for another three points and hoping to keep building momentum in the league stage.'

McMahon has been with Chelsea since the start of his Under-15s season, after joining from West Ham United, and recently signed a new contract to extend his stay with the Blues for another three years.

As he continues to develop both on and off the pitch, he has observed the older generation competing in European competitions.

The Chelsea Academy has a proud history in the Youth League, having lifted the trophy twice, and McMahon understands just how valuable those experiences are in helping players progress.

Now that he has the opportunity himself, we asked McMahon what it’s like to face different opposition on the European stage.

'I’ve been here for a while now and playing Youth League football at Cobham is really special,' McMahon said. 'It’s a ground the Academy knows well, especially having lifted the trophy here in the past.

'There’s definitely an extra buzz around European games. It just feels different. Everyone’s fired up - the players, the staff, the supporters. There’s a real energy. We’re focused on putting in a strong performance.'

Looking at the bigger picture, McMahon recognises the long-term value of competing against elite European teams. Regardless of the results, the lessons learned in the Youth League can be applied across various competitions throughout the season, as we compete in the Premier League 2, the EFL Trophy and the Premier League International Cup.

'The Youth League is definitely a different challenge compared to regular domestic games,' McMahon concluded. 'You’re facing top academies from all over Europe, each with their own styles, systems and types of players.

'The competition pushes you tactically, technically and mentally - and that’s what makes it so exciting. You learn so much from every game.'

Support the Blues!

Our second Youth League fixture will be streamed live on UEFA.tv, with kick-off at Cobham at 3pm (UK time) on Tuesday 30 September. We will also have highlights of the game on the Chelsea Official App and website the next day.