🔗 Share this article

Each move Lamine Yamal performs oozes class. Even when he is walking about seeming disheartened, which he showed often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual style of a top player. He gently touches the ball rather than kicking it, creating extraordinary power from restricted back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually aware, always able to go in any direction. He glides rather than sprints, but does so at velocity. He has already ended up as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Rising Prospect Estêvão Creates His Mark

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could evolve 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 last four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may at last have uncovered the player they keenly wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estêvão wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, scored after 55 minutes to definitively seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was red-carded just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, dummying left and right, evading opponents and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Battle and Powerful Superiority

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, but there was no disputing which of the two had triumphed.

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

It’s been a trait of the Champions League this season just how much of a bodily edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have struggled physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao essentially by having some larger blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the middle point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was convincingly validated.

Restart Mastery and Resilient Strength

The initial strike had felt imminent for at least five minutes before it materialized. It was no great surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are competing with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a one-two in a confined space and a skillful move. However embellished the finish, though, the origin was a slick interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

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

That irritation would have serious consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal diving over the defender's leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to the Barcelona captain being cautioned for his arguments. When Araújo – remained angry? Conscious of his side’s weaknesses? Outmaneuvered? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was certain and effectively settled the game.

Tactical Variations and Final Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, shielded in a deep line and aimed to grab something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture two managers more contrasting 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 diminished 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 probably have added a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the trend of Premier League control through quickness and strength is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes to go, strolling to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, accompanied by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the battle was already lost and decisively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, departed the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the points.