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Each move Lamine Yamal performs exudes class. At times when he is walking about appearing dejected, which he showed quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual grace of a top player. He gently touches the ball rather than kicking it, creating impressive power from restricted back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually vigilant, repeatedly able to go both ways. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at speed. He has already finished as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the top 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Rising Talent Estevao Leaves His Impact

In Estêvão, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could end up as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an impression since scoring 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 very early, but Brazil may finally have uncovered the player they keenly wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estevao wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t fully been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at terrifying speed, feinting left and right, shaking off markers and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Robust Superiority

The chant of “You’re just a shit Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no doubting which of the two had come out on top.

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

It’s been a feature of the Champions League this season just how much of a bodily edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have had issues physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered 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 midway point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The ploy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically validated.

Restart Dominance and Defensive Toughness

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no major surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are playing with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a quick exchange in a confined space and a skillful move. However elaborate the finish, though, the origin was a slick interchange from a corner that generated space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

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 cautioned for his complaints. When Araújo – continued fuming? Conscious of his side’s shortcomings? Outmaneuvered? – charged at Cucurella a few minutes later the conclusion was inevitable and virtually decided the game.

Game Plan Differences and Final Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, shielded in a deep line and aimed to snatch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture two managers more different 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 nowhere to go when they are diminished to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from a substitute and, if they’d actually needed to, could likely have added a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can shift in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the tendency of Premier League control through speed and force is evident.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes to go, strolling to the bench with a sense of sorrowful acceptance, accompanied by a few of weak jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the contest was already over and definitively so. Estêvão, the undeniable victor, exited the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the victory.