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Every action Lamine Yamal performs radiates quality. On occasions where he is moving about seeming downcast, which he did often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual grace of a star. He softly controls the ball rather than striking it, producing extraordinary power from limited back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, constantly aware, repeatedly able to go either way. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at pace. He has already ended up as second place 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 Star Estêvão Makes His Mark

In Estevao, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could increase to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could turn out as one of the very best. He has been building more and more of an impression since scoring the late winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have yielded 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 finally have uncovered the player they keenly wanted to have secured in Neymar.

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

Estevao's goal, executed after 55 minutes to completely 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 winning the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian darting at incredible speed, dummying left and right, shaking off opponents and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Duel and Robust Edge

The taunt of “You’re just a shit Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, but there was no disputing 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 strengthen 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 dominated Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally 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 halfway point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The ploy of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was emphatically justified.

Restart Expertise and Backline Toughness

The initial strike had felt close for at least five minutes before it arrived. It was no big surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it seems like Premier League clubs are competing with gems while the rest of the world is still using basic tools. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a quick exchange in a tight space and a fancy flick. However embellished the finish, though, the origin was a smooth interchange from a corner that generated space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

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 protests. When the defender – continued fuming? Mindful of his side’s shortcomings? Outmaneuvered? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was certain and virtually settled the game.

Tactical Contrasts and Ending Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, protected in a defensive formation 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 approach than the Everton boss and the Barcelona coach.

A team arranged to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape 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 a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could possibly have added a couple more.

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

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful submission, accompanied by a handful of weak jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the battle was already over and definitively so. Estevao, the obvious victor, left the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.