🔗 Share this article

Each move Lamine Yamal executes oozes class. On occasions where he is walking about looking disheartened, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless grace of a superstar. He caresses the ball rather than kicking it, generating remarkable power from restricted back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, constantly vigilant, always able to go in any direction. He slides rather than sprints, but does so at pace. He has already ended up as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, far from it.

Developing Star Estêvão Leaves His Imprint

In Estêvão, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could end up as one of the very best. He has been building more and more of an impact since scoring 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 found the player they urgently wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estêvão wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s impressive win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, executed 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 regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, deceiving left and right, evading defenders and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Powerful Advantage

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 rhymed, 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 robust player – and regular Premier League experience is only likely to amplify that.

It’s been a trait of the Champions League this season just how much of a athletic 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 essentially 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 imposed themselves on Barcelona. The strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively justified.

Dead-Ball Mastery 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 appears like Premier League clubs are competing with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a short pass in a confined space and a backheel nutmeg. However embellished the finish, though, the cause was a smooth interchange from a corner that created space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

That frustration would have major 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 the Barcelona captain being cautioned for his arguments. When the defender – remained angry? Conscious of his side’s weaknesses? Outsmarted? – lunged at Cucurella a few minutes later the conclusion was certain and virtually resolved the game.

Strategic Differences and Ending Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, protected in a low block 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 diverse in mindset than David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team organized to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has nowhere to go when they are cut down to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can change in the spring as collected fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the pattern of Premier League control through speed and force is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, strolling to the bench with a sense of rueful submission, accompanied by a scattering of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the battle was already finished and conclusively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, departed the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the win.