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Everything Lamine Yamal performs oozes excellence. At times when he is moving about seeming dejected, which he did often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a superstar. He softly controls the ball rather than hitting it, creating remarkable power from minimal back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, always alert, consistently able to go in any direction. He slides rather than sprints, but does so at speed. He has already placed 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 Estêvão Makes His Mark

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could turn out as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an impression since scoring the dying moments 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 premature, but Brazil may eventually have discovered the player they urgently wanted to have identified in Neymar.

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

Estevao's goal, converted after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a classic. In part, it was about Chelsea winning the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian darting at frightening speed, feinting left and right, shaking off defenders and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Battle and Physical Advantage

The chant of “You’re just a inferior Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no questioning 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 robust player – and consistent 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 faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some larger blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The strategy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was decisively justified.

Restart Dominance and Backline Strength

The initial strike had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no major surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it seems like Premier League clubs are playing with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using basic tools. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a quick exchange in a narrow space and a fancy flick. However embellished the finish, though, the cause was a slick interchange from a corner that generated 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 Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even disheartened by a couple of tackles.

That annoyance would have serious consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal plunging over Cucurella’s leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to the Barcelona captain being yellow-carded for his complaints. When Araújo – was he still seething? Aware of his side’s weaknesses? Outsmarted? – lunged at Cucurella a few minutes later the result was unavoidable and practically resolved the game.

Game Plan Variations and Closing Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, protected in a defensive formation and hoped to snatch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more diverse in attitude than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

A team organized 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 pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could probably have added a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can shift in the spring as collected fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through speed and force is evident.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes left, strolling to the bench with a sense of regretful acceptance, followed by a handful of weak jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the contest was already over and decisively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, left the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.