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Each move Lamine Yamal does oozes class. At times when he is walking about looking dejected, which he did frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a top player. He softly controls the ball rather than kicking it, producing impressive power from minimal back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually aware, consistently able to go in any direction. He moves smoothly rather than sprints, but does so at pace. He has already finished as silver medalist in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the top 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Developing Star Estêvão Leaves His Mark

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could end up as one of the top-tier. He has been creating more and more of an influence since netting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may finally have uncovered the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.

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

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was sent off just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at frightening speed, deceiving left and right, evading markers and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Battle and Physical Advantage

The taunt of “You’re just a inferior Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no doubting 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 robust player – and consistent 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 physical edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have struggled physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some bigger blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some shaky moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The ploy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was convincingly vindicated.

Set-Piece Expertise and Defensive Solidity

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are playing with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a short pass in a tight space and a skillful move. However elaborate the finish, though, the reason was a slick interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the advantage doesn’t just manifest from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only occasionally and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of interceptions.

That irritation 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 yellow-carded for his protests. When Araújo – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s shortcomings? Beaten? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was inevitable and practically resolved the game.

Strategic Contrasts and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, protected in a defensive formation 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 different in attitude than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

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 retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, got a third from a substitute and, if they’d really needed to, could probably have added a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can shift in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the pattern of Premier League supremacy through quickness and strength is clear.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes left, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful submission, followed by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the fight was already lost and conclusively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, departed the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the victory.