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Everything Lamine Yamal does radiates excellence. At times when he is strolling about seeming disheartened, which he did often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless grace of a superstar. He gently touches the ball rather than striking it, creating impressive power from minimal back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually aware, always able to go in any direction. He moves smoothly rather than sprints, but does so at velocity. He has already placed as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, far from it.

Developing Talent Estevao Creates His Mark

In Estêvão, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could evolve as one of the very best. He has been creating more and more of an impression since netting the late 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 uncovered the player they desperately wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estevao wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona

Estevao's goal, converted after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t really 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 regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, dummying left and right, evading markers and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Battle and Physical Advantage

The chant of “You’re just a shit Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no questioning which of the two had come out on top.

Estevao 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 expected to amplify that.

It’s been a trait 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 outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao essentially by having some bigger blokes to attack balls in the box.

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

Restart Mastery and Resilient Solidity

The opener had felt imminent for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no major surprise it came from a set play, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are operating with gems while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a quick exchange in a tight space and a skillful move. However ornate the finish, though, the cause was a precise interchange from a corner that opened up space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the edge doesn’t just show from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times surprised, perhaps even discouraged 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 Araújo being yellow-carded for his arguments. When the defender – was he still seething? Mindful of his side’s limitations? Outmaneuvered? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the result was inevitable and effectively decided the game.

Game Plan Variations and Closing Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, defended in a low block and tried to snatch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to envision two managers more different in approach 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 reduced to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from a substitute and, if they’d actually needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can shift in the spring as collected fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the pattern of Premier League control through quickness and strength is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful acceptance, pursued by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the battle was already finished and definitively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the win.