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Everything Lamine Yamal executes radiates quality. On occasions where he is strolling about seeming disheartened, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual grace of a top player. He caresses the ball rather than striking it, generating extraordinary power from restricted back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, always able to go in any direction. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at speed. He has already ended up as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the top 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Developing Star Estêvão Leaves His Impact

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could climb to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could turn out as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an influence since getting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have yielded 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 found the player they urgently wanted to have identified in Neymar.

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

Estevao's goal, converted after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t fully 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 mainly it was about the Brazilian darting at incredible speed, feinting left and right, brushing off markers and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Powerful Edge

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no questioning which of the two had come out on top.

Estêvão is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more robust player – and regular Premier League experience is only expected to strengthen 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 faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some bigger blokes to attack 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 tactic of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically vindicated.

Restart Dominance and Backline Strength

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no major surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are operating with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a quick exchange in a tight space and a backheel nutmeg. However elaborate the finish, though, the origin was a smooth interchange from a corner that created space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the superiority doesn’t just appear from an offensive point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only infrequently and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of blocks.

That frustration would have serious 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 yellow-carded for his protests. When the defender – continued fuming? Mindful of his side’s limitations? Outmaneuvered? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was inevitable and virtually settled the game.

Strategic Variations and Ending Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, protected in a low block and aimed to pinch 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 the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

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

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the pattern of Premier League supremacy through pace and force is evident.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, wandering to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, followed by a handful of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the battle was already over and definitively so. Estevao, the obvious victor, left the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the victory.