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Every action Lamine Yamal executes oozes quality. On occasions where he is strolling about seeming disheartened, which he showed frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a star. He gently touches the ball rather than hitting it, generating impressive power from minimal back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, always able to go both ways. He moves smoothly rather than dashes, but does so at velocity. He has already ended up as silver medalist in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Developing Prospect Estevao Creates His Mark

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise 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 influence since getting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have produced four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may eventually have discovered the player they keenly wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estêvão wonder goal illuminates Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

Estevao's goal, converted after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t really been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and a teammate's pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, deceiving left and right, evading opponents and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Powerful 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 fit, but there was no disputing which of the two had prevailed.

Estêvão is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more durable player – and regular Premier League experience is only likely to amplify 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 had issues physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some bigger blokes to go for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the middle point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The ploy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was decisively justified.

Restart Dominance and Resilient Strength

The initial strike had felt close for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no major 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 adorn it with a short pass in a tight space and a fancy flick. However elaborate the finish, though, the reason was a slick interchange from a corner that created space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the edge doesn’t just manifest from an goal-scoring 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 blocks.

That irritation would have serious 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 cautioned for his protests. When the defender – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s weaknesses? Outsmarted? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was inevitable and virtually settled the game.

Tactical Contrasts and Closing Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, shielded 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 attitude than the Everton boss 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 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 scored a couple more.

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

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes to go, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, pursued by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the battle was already finished and conclusively so. Estevao, the obvious victor, departed the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the victory.