Reborn Robert Sanchez set for key Chelsea role in Champions League mission at Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Goalkeeper has rediscovered his form and will be crucial as the Blues bid to make a strong start in Europe

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Preparation for Wednesday’s blockbuster Champions League opener away to Bayern Munich is a two-way street for Chelsea.

Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto will also look to ask difficult questions of a Bayern defence yet to face a team of Chelsea’s quality this season.

And it is in defence where Chelsea must focus an equal amount of their attention at the Allianz Arena.

Whoever was at fault for Brentford’s two direct goals in the 2-2 draw on Saturday, blame could not be placed at the feet (or hands) of Robert Sanchez. The goalkeeper has enjoyed an excellent start to the season and is likely to be crucial to Chelsea’s chances in Munich.

Chelsea have the best defence in the Premier League since February but were suspect at the back against Brentford, and the Champions League is a whole new kettle of fish.

Sanchez, though, appears a different player from last season, when he was often impacted by nerves. He made 10 errors that led directly to an opponent’s shot last term - the most in all the Premier League - and half of those ended up in Chelsea conceding a goal.

Sanchez impressed in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Brentford

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

The Spaniard won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper during Chelsea’s triumphant Club World Cup campaign, and it appears to have done his confidence the world of good.

Sanchez kept clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Fulham, and the only goal he has let in besides Brentford’s two was Lucas Paqueta’s stunning early strike for West Ham in a game that Chelsea went on to win 5-1.

At the Gtech, Sanchez could do nothing about either goal, wrong-footed by Tosin Adarabioyo’s questionable positioning for Kevin Schade’s opener. Brentford’s last-gasp equaliser came from a long throw after Kristoffer Ajer outjumped no fewer than five Chelsea players to nod on for Fabio Carvalho, who capitalised on debutant Alejandro Garnacho napping at the back post.

His performance was otherwise one of Chelsea’s best on the night. He made a sensational fingertip save to deny Schade a second of the evening just a minute after Palmer had brought the Blues back level and acrobatically tipped over the bar from a long-throw flick-on. Then, late on, he changed direction decisively to scramble back and claw away a heavily deflected goal-bound cross.

Bayern have Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Luis Diaz and Serge Gnabry in their ranks, who between them have 21 goal contributions in the Bavarians’ first three Bundesliga games of the season. Keeping them quiet will be a gargantuan task.

But Sanchez has a fine centre-back partnership in front of him in the form of Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin, and the goalkeeper himself has made an inspired start to the season.

Chelsea will be relying on him to raise his level even further as they return to the scene of the greatest night in their history. Rewatching Petr Cech’s magnificent performance in the 2012 Champions League final would be no bad place to start.