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Each move Lamine Yamal performs exudes class. Even when he is strolling about looking dejected, which he showed quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a superstar. He gently touches the ball rather than striking it, generating remarkable power from limited back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, constantly alert, consistently able to go in any direction. He moves smoothly rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already finished as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, far from it.

Developing Talent Estevao Creates His Impact

In Estêvão, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could climb to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could evolve as one of the elite. He has been creating more and more of an impression since getting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may at last have found the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.

Estêvão wonder goal lights up Chelsea’s impressive win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, scored after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t really been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian scurrying at frightening speed, dummying left and right, shaking off markers and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Physical Superiority

The taunt of “You’re just a inferior Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, 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 durable player – and frequent Premier League experience is only set to enhance 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 had issues physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some more physical blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The tactic of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was emphatically vindicated.

Set-Piece Expertise and Resilient Toughness

The opener had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it came. It was no big surprise it came from a set play, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are operating with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a one-two in a narrow space and a fancy flick. However elaborate the finish, though, the reason was a slick interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

That irritation would have significant 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 booked for his complaints. When the defender – was he still seething? Aware of his side’s shortcomings? Outsmarted? – lunged at Cucurella a few minutes later the outcome was inevitable and virtually resolved the game.

Game Plan Variations and Closing Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, defended 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 imagine two managers more contrasting in mindset than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team arranged to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are diminished to 10. They dropped off a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can evolve in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the tendency of Premier League control through speed and force is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of regretful submission, accompanied by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the contest was already over and definitively so. Estêvão, the undeniable victor, left the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the win.