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Every action Lamine Yamal executes oozes excellence. At times when he is strolling about seeming downcast, which he demonstrated quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual style of a top player. He gently touches the ball rather than striking it, generating impressive power from restricted back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, constantly alert, consistently able to go both ways. He slides 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-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Rising Prospect Estevao Makes His Impact

In Estêvão, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could evolve as one of the very best. He has been making more and more of an impression since getting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have produced 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 found the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.

Estevao spectacular goal illuminates Chelsea’s impressive win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t fully 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 a teammate's pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian darting at terrifying speed, dummying left and right, evading opponents and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Battle and Physical Edge

The slogan 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 questioning which of the two had triumphed.

Estêvão is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more resilient player – and regular Premier League experience is only likely to amplify that.

It’s been a characteristic 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 dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some bigger blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

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

Set-Piece Mastery and Backline Toughness

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are playing with gems while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a short pass in a tight space and a fancy flick. However elaborate the finish, though, the cause was a slick interchange from a corner that opened up space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the superiority doesn’t just appear from an offensive point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only infrequently and seemed at times stunned, perhaps even discouraged by a couple of tackles.

That frustration would have significant 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 the Barcelona captain being booked for his complaints. When the defender – was he still seething? Mindful of his side’s shortcomings? Outsmarted? – lunged at Cucurella a few minutes later the result was unavoidable and effectively settled the game.

Tactical Variations and Ending Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, protected in a defensive formation and aimed to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to envision two managers more contrasting in approach than David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are reduced to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could possibly have notched a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the pattern of Premier League supremacy through pace and strength is evident.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes to go, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, accompanied by a few of weak jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the fight was already over and decisively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, departed the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.