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Every action Lamine Yamal executes oozes quality. Even when he is moving about appearing disheartened, which he did quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a star. He gently touches the ball rather than kicking it, creating impressive power from minimal back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, continually alert, repeatedly able to go both ways. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at pace. He has already ended up 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 Creates His Imprint

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could end up 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 most recent four starts for Chelsea have produced four goals, and he also found the net in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may finally have found the player they desperately wanted to have found in Neymar.

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

Estevao's goal, executed after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t really been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a classic. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian scurrying at terrifying speed, dummying left and right, shaking off opponents and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Physical Superiority

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no disputing 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 resilient player – and frequent 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 physical 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 shaky moments in the opening quarter, by the middle point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The tactic of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was decisively validated.

Set-Piece Mastery and Defensive Solidity

The initial strike had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are playing with gems while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a short pass in a narrow space and a skillful move. However ornate the finish, though, the reason was a smooth interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the edge doesn’t just appear from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times surprised, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of tackles.

That annoyance would have serious 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 Araújo – was he still seething? Conscious of his side’s shortcomings? Outmaneuvered? – dived at Cucurella a few minutes later the result was unavoidable and effectively decided the game.

Tactical Variations and Final Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, protected 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 mindset than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

A team arranged to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has nowhere to go when they are diminished to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could possibly have scored a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase 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 strength is evident.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes left, strolling to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, accompanied by a few of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the battle was already lost and definitively so. Estevao, the obvious victor, departed the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the points.