Women's Champions League: Chelsea Ladies 1-0 Bayern Munich

Drew Spence's early strike gave the Blues the advantage to take to Bavaria

Chelsea held firm to beat German giants Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first leg of their Women's Champions League round of 32 tie at Kingsmeadow.

The goal came from Drew Spence's low 10th-minute finish, after a neat move.

Bayern, European quarter-finalists in 2016-17, wasted several chances to score an away goal in a second half which they dominated.

But the clean sheet gives Chelsea the edge for the return leg in Germany on Wednesday, 11 October.

Chelsea, competing in Europe for a third consecutive year, have been knocked out by German opposition, Wolfsburg, in each of the past two seasons after first-leg losses at home.

But Wednesday's evenly-contested game saw a sharper, more resilient and tactically mature Chelsea display than 12 months ago.

Unseeded for the first knockout round, Emma Hayes' side were unfortunate to be pitted against a highly-rated Bayern outfit. Yet, after Spence's early strike, the hosts could have had a second goal, only for unmarked England centre-back Millie Bright to glance a header wide.

However, they were grateful to Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl for some crucial saves, as she tipped Nicole Rosler's audacious effort over the bar in the first half, before denying Dominika Skorvankova from close range in the second.

Bayern, runners-up in the Frauen Bundesliga last term behind Wolfsburg, were frustrated as they went close through Melanie Leupolz, Fridolina Rolfo and former Germany star Melanie Behringer shortly after half-time.

Chelsea Ladies boss Emma Hayes told BBC Sport:

"It was a resilient performance. We rode our luck at times but we took our chance really well.

"The girls carried out the game plan because, by the end, Bayern were frustrated and rattled.

"All 14 players did exactly where they were asked to do. But the game is not over. It is just half-time."

Chelsea Ladies: Lindahl; Thorisdottir, Blundell, Flaherty, Bright, Kirby (Aluko 80) Eriksson, Chapman (capt), Mjelde, Bachmann (Dunn 74), Spence (Davison 67).

Subs not used: Spencer, Carney, Ji, Cuthbert.

Bayern Munich: Zinsberger; Lewandowski, Demann, Behringer (capt), Leupolz (Roord 80) Rolfo (Beerensteyn 67), Skorvankova, Maier, Laudehr, Faisst. Rosler (Vonkova 90).

Subs not used: Weimar, Vonkova, Wider, Wenninger, Dabritz.

Attendance: 2,136