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Every action Lamine Yamal performs oozes excellence. Even when he is strolling about appearing downcast, which he showed often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless elegance of a top player. He caresses the ball rather than kicking it, producing extraordinary power from restricted back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, constantly aware, repeatedly able to go either way. He moves smoothly rather than runs, but does so at velocity. 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.

Rising Prospect Estêvão Makes His Impact

In Estevao, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have recruited a player who could turn out as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an influence 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 premature, but Brazil may finally have uncovered the player they urgently wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estevao wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, scored after 55 minutes to definitively seal a win that hadn’t fully been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was red-carded just before half-time, was a classic. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian darting at frightening speed, dummying left and right, evading markers and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Contest and Physical Superiority

The slogan of “You’re just a inferior Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no doubting 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 consistent 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 struggled physically in the Premier League this season but overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some more physical blokes to attack 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 strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically vindicated.

Dead-Ball Mastery and Backline Toughness

The first goal had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no big surprise it came from a set play, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are competing with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a quick exchange in a narrow space and a backheel nutmeg. However ornate the finish, though, the reason was a smooth interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

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

That irritation 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 booked for his complaints. When the defender – continued fuming? Conscious of his side’s limitations? Outsmarted? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the conclusion was unavoidable and effectively settled the game.

Tactical Variations and Final Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, shielded in a low block and aimed to grab something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to envision two managers more different in approach than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

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 fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d truly needed to, could probably have notched a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through quickness and force is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes to go, wandering to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, accompanied by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the battle was already lost and definitively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, departed the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the points.