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Each move Lamine Yamal performs radiates quality. On occasions where he is walking about looking downcast, which he demonstrated frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a star. He softly controls the ball rather than kicking it, producing impressive power from minimal back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, always alert, repeatedly able to go in any direction. He glides rather than runs, but does so at velocity. He has already finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the top 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Emerging Star Estevao Makes His Mark

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could turn out as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an impression since getting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may eventually have found the player they keenly wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estevao spectacular goal lights up Chelsea’s dominant 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 masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian scurrying at frightening speed, deceiving left and right, shaking off markers and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Powerful Superiority

The slogan of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, but there was no doubting 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 robust player – and consistent Premier League experience is only set to strengthen that.

It’s been a characteristic of the Champions League this season just how much of a athletic 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 basically by having some more physical blokes to go for balls in the box.

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

Restart Mastery and Backline Toughness

The initial strike had felt close 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 appears like Premier League clubs are playing with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a short pass in a confined space and a backheel nutmeg. However embellished the finish, though, the reason was a smooth interchange from a corner that opened up space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the advantage doesn’t just show from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only rarely and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of tackles.

That irritation would have significant consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal plunging over Cucurella’s leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to Araújo being cautioned for his arguments. When the defender – was he still seething? Aware of his side’s shortcomings? Outsmarted? – dived at Cucurella a few minutes later the result was inevitable and practically resolved the game.

Strategic Contrasts and Ending Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, shielded in a deep line and tried to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more diverse in approach than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are cut down to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could likely have added a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can change in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League dominance through speed and strength is clear.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes left, strolling to the bench with a sense of sorrowful submission, followed by a handful of weak jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the fight was already finished and decisively so. Estêvão, the undeniable victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the win.