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Everything Lamine Yamal does radiates excellence. Even when he is strolling about appearing disheartened, which he demonstrated quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a star. He softly controls the ball rather than striking it, generating impressive power from minimal back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, continually alert, always able to go in any direction. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at velocity. 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, not even close.

Developing Talent Estevao Creates His Imprint

In Estêvão, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could end up as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an impression since scoring the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may at last have discovered the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.

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

Estêvão’s goal, scored 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 classic. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, feinting left and right, shaking off defenders and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Contest and Physical Edge

The slogan of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no disputing 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 set to strengthen 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 dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some more physical blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the middle point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The ploy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was decisively validated.

Restart Expertise and Defensive Strength

The first goal had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it came. It was no big surprise it came from a set play, an area of the game in which it seems like Premier League clubs are competing with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a short pass in a confined space and a backheel nutmeg. However elaborate the finish, though, the origin was a slick interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the superiority doesn’t just show from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only rarely and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even disheartened by a couple of blocks.

That irritation 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 the Barcelona captain being yellow-carded for his arguments. When the defender – remained angry? Mindful of his side’s limitations? Outmaneuvered? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was inevitable and practically decided the game.

Strategic Differences and Closing Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, defended 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 envision two managers more diverse in mindset than David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has nowhere to go when they are diminished to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, secured 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 collected fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the tendency of Premier League supremacy through quickness and strength is clear.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, accompanied by a scattering of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the contest was already finished and definitively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, exited the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the victory.