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Every action Lamine Yamal does radiates class. Even when he is moving about looking dejected, which he showed often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a superstar. He softly controls the ball rather than striking it, creating remarkable power from minimal back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually alert, consistently able to go both ways. He glides rather than runs, but does so at pace. He has already finished as silver medalist in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Rising Prospect Estevao Creates His Imprint

In Estevao, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could evolve as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an impression since netting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also found the net in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may eventually have discovered the player they keenly wanted to have identified in Neymar.

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

Estevao'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 classic. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, feinting left and right, brushing off markers and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Duel and Robust Advantage

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no questioning which of the two had triumphed.

Estevao is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more durable player – and consistent Premier League experience is only likely to strengthen 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 had issues physically in the Premier League this season but overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some bigger blokes to go for 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 tactic of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively vindicated.

Restart Dominance and Resilient Solidity

The opener had felt approaching 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 feels like Premier League clubs are operating with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a short pass in a confined 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 edge doesn’t just appear from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only occasionally 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 the defender's leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to the Barcelona captain being yellow-carded for his arguments. When Araújo – continued fuming? Mindful of his side’s shortcomings? Outmaneuvered? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was certain and practically resolved the game.

Game Plan Differences and Closing Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, protected 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 David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team organized to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are cut down to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, secured a third from a substitute and, if they’d actually needed to, could probably have added a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League control through speed and strength is evident.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes to go, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful submission, followed by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the battle was already over and definitively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the points.