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Everything Lamine Yamal executes exudes excellence. Even when he is moving about looking dejected, which he showed quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant elegance of a superstar. He softly controls the ball rather than striking it, creating extraordinary power from limited back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, repeatedly able to go either way. He slides rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already placed as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, far from it.

Developing Star Estêvão Makes His Imprint

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could end up as one of the elite. He has been creating more and more of an impact since netting the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may eventually have discovered the player they keenly wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estêvão wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to definitively 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 primarily it was about the Brazilian sprinting at terrifying speed, deceiving left and right, brushing off markers and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Duel and Powerful Edge

The chant of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, 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 consistent Premier League experience is only likely to enhance that.

It’s been a feature of the Champions League this season just how much of a physical edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some larger blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the middle point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively validated.

Dead-Ball Mastery and Defensive Solidity

The initial strike had felt approaching 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 seems like Premier League clubs are operating with gems 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 short pass in a confined space and a backheel nutmeg. However ornate the finish, though, the origin was a precise interchange from a corner that opened up space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the superiority doesn’t just appear from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only occasionally and seemed at times surprised, perhaps even discouraged by a couple of tackles.

That frustration would have significant consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal diving 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 the defender – remained angry? Aware of his side’s limitations? Outsmarted? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was inevitable and virtually settled the game.

Tactical Variations and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, protected in a low block and hoped to grab something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more diverse in mindset than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team organized to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are diminished to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d truly needed to, could possibly have notched a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through pace and power is clear.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes to go, strolling to the bench with a sense of regretful acceptance, pursued by a few of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the battle was already over and decisively so. Estêvão, the undeniable victor, exited the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the win.