🔗 Share this article

Everything Lamine Yamal performs oozes class. Even when he is strolling about appearing disheartened, which he did frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a star. He gently touches the ball rather than hitting it, generating extraordinary power from limited back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually alert, consistently able to go both ways. He moves smoothly rather than dashes, but does so at velocity. He has already ended up as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Emerging Prospect Estêvão Creates His Mark

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could turn out as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an impact since scoring the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent four starts for Chelsea have produced 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 desperately wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estevao spectacular goal lights up Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona

Estevao's goal, scored 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 mostly it was about the Brazilian darting at incredible speed, dummying left and right, brushing off defenders and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Duel 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 rhymed, but there was no disputing which of the two had prevailed.

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 expected to enhance 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 faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao essentially 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 imposed themselves on Barcelona. The ploy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was emphatically validated.

Set-Piece Dominance and Resilient Toughness

The opener had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a set play, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are playing 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 adorn it with a one-two in a narrow space and a skillful move. However ornate the finish, though, the origin was a smooth interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

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

That irritation would have major consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal falling 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 protests. When the defender – remained angry? Aware of his side’s shortcomings? Outsmarted? – charged at Cucurella a few minutes later the result was unavoidable and practically settled the game.

Strategic Contrasts and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, shielded in a deep line 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 mindset than the Everton boss and the Barcelona coach.

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, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could probably have scored a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can shift in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the tendency of Premier League supremacy through pace and force is clear.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, pursued by a handful of weak jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the fight was already finished and definitively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the victory.