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Each move Lamine Yamal performs exudes class. At times when he is walking about appearing dejected, which he showed often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a superstar. He softly controls the ball rather than kicking it, creating impressive power from limited back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually aware, repeatedly able to go both ways. 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 finest 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Emerging Prospect Estêvão Creates His Imprint

In Estêvão, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could turn out as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an impression since scoring the dying moments 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 premature, but Brazil may eventually have found the player they desperately wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estêvão amazing goal brightens Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, dummying left and right, evading defenders and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Contest and Robust Superiority

The chant of “You’re just a poor Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no disputing 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 durable player – and frequent 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 physical edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have struggled physically in the Premier League this season but dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some larger blokes to attack balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically justified.

Set-Piece Mastery and Resilient Strength

The opener had felt imminent 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 feels like Premier League clubs are competing 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 enhance it with a one-two in a narrow space and a skillful move. However embellished the finish, though, the origin was a precise interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

That annoyance would have serious consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal diving over the defender's leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to Araújo being booked for his complaints. When Araújo – continued fuming? Mindful of his side’s weaknesses? Beaten? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was certain and effectively resolved the game.

Tactical Variations and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, shielded in a low block and hoped to snatch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more contrasting in attitude than David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are reduced to 10. They dropped off a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could probably have scored a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can shift in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the pattern of Premier League dominance through speed and force is clear.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, wandering to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, pursued by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the battle was already finished and definitively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, left the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the points.