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Each move Lamine Yamal performs oozes excellence. On occasions where he is walking about appearing downcast, which he showed frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a top player. He softly controls the ball rather than hitting it, creating extraordinary power from minimal back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, continually aware, always able to go either way. He glides rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already placed as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Rising Star Estevao Makes His Imprint

In Estêvão, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could turn out as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an impact since netting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s just the beginning, but Brazil may finally have discovered the player they keenly wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estêvão amazing goal illuminates Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, scored after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t really been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was sent off just before half-time, was a masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, dummying left and right, evading opponents and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Physical Edge

The slogan of “You’re just a shit Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, but there was no questioning which of the two had prevailed.

Estevao is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more resilient player – and consistent Premier League experience is only set to enhance that.

It’s been a feature of the Champions League this season just how much of a athletic edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some more physical blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The ploy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively vindicated.

Set-Piece Dominance and Backline Toughness

The opener had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are operating with gems while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a quick exchange in a confined space and a fancy flick. However ornate the finish, though, the origin was a smooth interchange from a corner that created space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the advantage doesn’t just show from an offensive point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of tackles.

That frustration would have major consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal falling over Cucurella’s leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to the Barcelona captain being booked for his arguments. When the defender – was he still seething? Conscious of his side’s weaknesses? Outsmarted? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the result was inevitable and practically resolved the game.

Strategic Variations and Final Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, shielded in a deep line and hoped to grab something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to envision two managers more different in attitude than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are cut down to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could possibly have added a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can evolve in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the pattern of Premier League supremacy through quickness and force is clear.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, followed by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the contest was already lost and conclusively so. Estevao, the obvious victor, exited the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the points.