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Everything Lamine Yamal does radiates quality. Even when he is walking about looking disheartened, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual grace of a star. He caresses the ball rather than striking it, producing remarkable power from restricted back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always aware, always able to go both ways. He glides rather than dashes, but does so at velocity. He has already placed 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, not even close.

Emerging Talent Estevao Leaves His Mark

In Estevao, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could turn out as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an impression 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 very early, but Brazil may at last have discovered the player they urgently wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estêvão amazing goal illuminates Chelsea’s dominant 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 winning the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian darting at incredible speed, feinting left and right, shaking off markers and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Physical Superiority

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no questioning 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 regular Premier League experience is only expected to strengthen that.

It’s been a characteristic 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 essentially by having some bigger blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some shaky moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The tactic of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically vindicated.

Dead-Ball Dominance and Backline Solidity

The first goal had felt imminent for at least five minutes before it materialized. It was no big surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are operating with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a one-two in a confined space and a skillful move. However ornate the finish, though, the cause was a precise interchange from a corner that created space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the superiority doesn’t just appear from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only infrequently and seemed at times surprised, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of interceptions.

That annoyance would have major 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 cautioned for his complaints. When Araújo – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s weaknesses? Beaten? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the result was certain and practically settled the game.

Strategic Variations and Final Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, shielded in a defensive formation and tried to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture two managers more diverse in approach 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 reduced to 10. They fell back 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 probably have added a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can change in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to weaken at English sides but the pattern of Premier League control through pace and force is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes left, wandering to the bench with a sense of regretful resignation, pursued by a handful of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the battle was already over and decisively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the points.