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Every action Lamine Yamal executes oozes class. Even when he is walking about looking dejected, which he demonstrated frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a top player. He gently touches the ball rather than kicking it, creating remarkable power from restricted back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, constantly alert, repeatedly able to go in any direction. He glides rather than sprints, but does so at velocity. He has already finished as silver medalist 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.

Emerging Talent Estevao Leaves His Impact

In Estêvão, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase 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 impression since scoring the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His previous 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 just the beginning, but Brazil may at last have found the player they urgently wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estevao spectacular goal illuminates Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

Estevao's goal, scored after 55 minutes to definitively seal a win that hadn’t truly 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 retrieving the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian darting at terrifying speed, feinting left and right, shaking off defenders and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Battle and Physical Superiority

The slogan of “You’re just a poor Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no disputing which of the two had triumphed.

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 strengthen that.

It’s been a trait of the Champions League this season just how much of a physical edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have struggled physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some bigger blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some shaky moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The tactic of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was convincingly vindicated.

Set-Piece Mastery and Defensive Solidity

The initial strike had felt close for at least five minutes before it arrived. 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 operating with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using basic tools. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a one-two in a confined space and a fancy flick. However ornate the finish, though, the reason was a slick interchange from a corner that created space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the advantage doesn’t just manifest from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only rarely and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized 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 protests. When Araújo – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s weaknesses? Outsmarted? – charged at Cucurella a few minutes later the conclusion was certain and practically decided the game.

Game Plan Variations and Final Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, shielded in a defensive formation and hoped to grab 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 cut down to 10. They dropped off a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could likely have notched a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League dominance through quickness and strength is clear.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes to go, strolling to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, followed by a scattering of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the fight was already finished and decisively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the victory.