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Every action Lamine Yamal executes radiates excellence. On occasions where he is walking about seeming disheartened, which he showed quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a superstar. He gently touches the ball rather than hitting it, creating remarkable power from restricted back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always alert, consistently able to go in any direction. He glides rather than sprints, but does so at speed. He has already ended up as silver medalist in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Emerging Prospect Estevao Leaves His Mark

In Estêvão, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could end up as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an impression since netting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also found the net in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may eventually have found the player they keenly wanted to have found in Neymar.

Estêvão amazing goal lights up Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

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

Face-to-Face Duel and Physical Superiority

The chant of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no doubting 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 robust player – and regular Premier League experience is only expected to amplify that.

It’s been a characteristic of the Champions League this season just how much of a bodily edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have struggled physically in the Premier League this season but overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some more physical blokes to attack 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 ploy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was convincingly validated.

Dead-Ball Expertise and Defensive Strength

The first goal had felt imminent for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a set play, 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 conkers. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a quick exchange in a tight space and a backheel nutmeg. However embellished the finish, though, the origin was a smooth interchange from a corner that opened up space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the advantage doesn’t just show from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only rarely and seemed at times stunned, perhaps even disheartened by a couple of blocks.

That annoyance 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 Araújo being cautioned for his protests. When the defender – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s limitations? Outsmarted? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the result was inevitable and effectively decided the game.

Tactical Differences and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, protected in a low block and hoped 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 attitude than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are cut down to 10. They dropped off a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, got a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could probably have scored a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can shift in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the tendency of Premier League control through pace and force is evident.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes to go, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful acceptance, pursued 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, departed the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the win.