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Each move Lamine Yamal performs oozes quality. Even when he is moving about looking dejected, which he did frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant elegance of a superstar. He gently touches the ball rather than hitting it, generating remarkable power from restricted back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, consistently able to go both ways. He glides rather than runs, but does so at velocity. He has already finished as silver medalist in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, far from it.

Emerging Talent Estêvão Leaves His Mark

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could evolve as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an impact since netting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may eventually have discovered the player they urgently wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estevao amazing goal brightens Chelsea’s impressive win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to definitively 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 masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian darting at terrifying speed, dummying left and right, evading markers and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Powerful Superiority

The chant of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” 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.

Estêvão 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 expected to enhance that.

It’s been a feature of the Champions League this season just how much of a athletic 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 bigger blokes to challenge 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 strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was convincingly validated.

Dead-Ball Dominance and Defensive Solidity

The initial strike had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it came. It was no major surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are competing with gems while the rest of the world is still using basic tools. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a quick exchange in a tight space and a fancy flick. However embellished 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 advantage doesn’t just manifest from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only rarely and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of tackles.

That irritation would have serious consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal plunging 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 – remained angry? Conscious of his side’s shortcomings? Outsmarted? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was inevitable and virtually resolved the game.

Tactical Differences and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, protected in a deep line and hoped to grab 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 the Barcelona coach.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are diminished to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, got a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could probably have notched a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League dominance through pace and strength is evident.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful acceptance, pursued by a handful of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the fight was already over and conclusively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, exited the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.