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Everything Lamine Yamal executes radiates quality. Even when he is moving about seeming disheartened, which he demonstrated quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a superstar. He gently touches the ball rather than hitting it, creating remarkable power from restricted back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, always aware, repeatedly able to go in any direction. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at speed. He has already placed as silver medalist in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Rising Star Estevao Creates His Imprint

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could climb to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could end up as one of the elite. He has been making more and more of an influence since getting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent four starts for Chelsea have produced four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may eventually have uncovered the player they desperately wanted to have identified in Neymar.

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

Estêvão’s goal, executed after 55 minutes to definitively seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was sent off just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, deceiving left and right, brushing off opponents and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Battle and Powerful Advantage

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

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

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

And Chelsea, after some shaky moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The tactic of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively validated.

Set-Piece Mastery and Backline Toughness

The initial strike had felt close for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no big surprise it came from a set play, 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 conkers. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a short pass in a tight space and a fancy flick. However embellished the finish, though, the origin was a precise interchange from a corner that opened up space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the advantage doesn’t just show from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only occasionally and seemed at times stunned, perhaps even disheartened by a couple of blocks.

That annoyance would have significant 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 Araújo being yellow-carded for his complaints. When the defender – continued fuming? Conscious of his side’s limitations? Beaten? – dived at Cucurella a few minutes later the conclusion was certain and virtually settled the game.

Game Plan Contrasts and Final Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, protected in a defensive formation 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 diverse in attitude than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team arranged to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are reduced to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from a substitute and, if they’d actually needed to, could possibly have added a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through speed and force is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, accompanied by a handful of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the fight was already finished and conclusively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, departed the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the win.