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Every action Lamine Yamal executes oozes quality. At times when he is moving about seeming downcast, which he did often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless elegance of a top player. He gently touches the ball rather than kicking it, generating extraordinary power from limited back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, continually aware, repeatedly able to go both ways. He slides rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already ended up as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Rising Star Estevao Leaves His Mark

In Estêvão, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could evolve as one of the top-tier. He has been creating more and more of an impact since getting the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may finally have discovered the player they keenly wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estêvão spectacular goal illuminates Chelsea’s impressive win over 10-man Barcelona

Estevao's goal, executed after 55 minutes to absolutely 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 winning the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, deceiving left and right, shaking off opponents and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Duel and Powerful Superiority

The chant of “You’re just a inferior Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no doubting which of the two had prevailed.

Estêvão is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more durable player – and regular Premier League experience is only likely to amplify 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 had issues physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some more physical blokes to attack balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The tactic of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively validated.

Dead-Ball Mastery and Resilient Solidity

The first goal had felt close 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 seems like Premier League clubs are operating with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a one-two in a tight space and a skillful move. However ornate the finish, though, the reason was a precise interchange from a corner that opened up space for a Chelsea player to cross for a teammate.

But the advantage doesn’t just appear from an offensive point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only infrequently and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even disheartened by a couple of tackles.

That frustration would have major 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 yellow-carded for his complaints. When Araújo – continued fuming? Conscious of his side’s weaknesses? Beaten? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was certain and virtually settled the game.

Tactical Differences and Final Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, defended in a deep line and aimed to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more different in attitude 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 retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, secured a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could likely have added a couple more.

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

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes to go, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful submission, accompanied by a few of weak jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the contest was already finished and decisively so. Estêvão, the undeniable victor, departed the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the points.