Conte’s champions are given wake-up call in defeat by Bayern Munich
Alvaro Morata made his first appearance in Chelsea blue but the £70million record signing was unable to prevent his new team sliding to defeat against Bayern Munich.
Bayern were three up inside half an hour and, although goals by Marcos Alonso and Michy Batshuayi restored respectability, it has been a torrid few days for the Premier League champions in Asia.
Since beating Arsenal in Beijing on Saturday, there has been confirmation Pedro suffered multiple fractures around his eye socket and cheekbone in a clash with David Ospina.
Pedro was sent home, as was Kenedy, who sparked a diplomatic incident by insulting the whole of China with two short phrases and an inadequate apology on social media.
New signings Morata and Antonio Rudiger have arrived to lift the mood but things would soon deteriorate when Bayern went ahead inside six minutes and eased two up in 11 minutes.
The results of these games matter little, of course, but the ease with which the Germans sliced through his team will concern Antonio Conte.
Bayern had been stung by a 40 defeat against AC Milan in China and Carlo Ancelotti was determined to see his team produce something better.
They made a terrific start with a wonderful goal scored by right back Rafinha, tearing forward and fizzing a shot low past Thibaut Courtois and in off the base of the far post.
Courtois was soon retrieving another from his net. Franck Ribery danced past Cesar Azpilicueta and dinked a cross over Andreas Christensen, who was given the chance to impress in the centre of Conte’s three central defenders instead of David Luiz. Thomas Muller arrived to volley it in closerange.
Chelsea’s defensive unit, so solid against Arsenal three days earlier, was all at sea and unable to contain Bayern’s fast and fluent movement.
Batshuayi, up front with Willian and 20-year-old Jeremie Boga, struggled to hold the ball up and offer any relief. Conte kept his composure and issued directions from the touchline.
James Rodriguez really ought to have made it 3-0 but missed the target. Muller made no mistake when invited to shoot from 25 yards by Christensen, he curled the third inside the post.
Still, less than 27 minutes had been played and a damaging defeat seemed on the cards. Victor Moses vented frustration on Marco Friedl with a late challenge which made the teenage left back scream in pain.
Boga, however, offered bursts of promise and forced Bayern goalkeeper Tom Starke into action, an attack which seemed to belatedly jolt Chelsea into life. Starke produced another fine save, low to his left to deny Batshuayi, and Gary Cahill headed wide from a corner.
Alonso reduced the deficit in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, meeting a low cross from Moses with a crisp strike.
James missed more good chances; a header planted wide, a shot delayed to enable Gary Cahill to recover and a low shot saved by Courtois after intricate skill from Ribery.
Morata came on to replace Boga on the left of the front three. It is unlikely to be his usual position but he was able to offer glimpses of his technique and change of pace.
He turned neatly past Milos Pantovic and accelerated clear of Felix Gotze. Luiz, who came on at the same time as Morata, almost made an impact with a deflected shot which struck a post.
The game became disrupted by substitutions but Batshuayi further reduced Bayern’s lead, sweeping in a Cesc Fabregas corner from close range.
It was a fifth goal in three preseason games for the Belgian who is determined to fight for his right to lead the line despite the arrival of Morata.