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Each move Lamine Yamal performs exudes excellence. At times when he is walking about seeming downcast, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a star. He gently touches the ball rather than striking it, producing remarkable power from limited back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, repeatedly able to go either way. He glides rather than sprints, but does so at speed. He has already finished 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, not even close.

Rising Prospect Estevao Leaves His Mark

In Estêvão, recruited 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 building more and more of an impression since getting 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 premature, but Brazil may at last have uncovered the player they urgently wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estevao amazing goal lights up Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’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 dismissed just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, deceiving left and right, evading defenders and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Duel and Powerful Edge

The slogan of “You’re just a shit Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, 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 resilient player – and regular Premier League experience is only expected to strengthen 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 overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some bigger blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The ploy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively justified.

Dead-Ball Expertise and Defensive Toughness

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it materialized. It was no great surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it seems like Premier League clubs are operating with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using basic tools. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a short pass in a narrow space and a backheel nutmeg. 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 Enzo Fernández.

But the edge doesn’t just show from an offensive point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times stunned, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of tackles.

That irritation 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 Araújo being yellow-carded for his protests. When Araújo – was he still seething? Conscious of his side’s shortcomings? Outmaneuvered? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the result was unavoidable and practically resolved the game.

Tactical Contrasts and Final Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, defended in a deep line and tried to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture two managers more different in approach than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team organized to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are cut down to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can evolve in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the pattern of Premier League control through pace and strength is evident.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes left, walking to the bench with a sense of regretful resignation, accompanied by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the fight was already over and decisively so. Estevao, the clear victor, left the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the points.