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Everything Lamine Yamal performs radiates excellence. Even when he is moving about looking downcast, which he showed quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a top player. He caresses the ball rather than striking it, generating impressive power from limited back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, consistently able to go both ways. He slides rather than dashes, 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-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Emerging Talent Estêvão Makes His Imprint

In Estevao, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could evolve as one of the elite. He has been making more and more of an impact since getting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s just the beginning, but Brazil may finally have found the player they urgently wanted to have identified in Neymar.

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

Estêvão’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 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 primarily it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, dummying left and right, evading opponents and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Robust Superiority

The slogan of “You’re just a inferior Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, 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 robust player – and regular Premier League experience is only expected to enhance 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 struggled physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some more physical blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some shaky moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had taken control on Barcelona. The ploy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically validated.

Set-Piece Dominance and Resilient Solidity

The initial strike had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it materialized. 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 precious stones while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a quick exchange in a confined space and a fancy flick. However embellished the finish, though, the reason was a precise interchange from a corner that created space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

That annoyance would have serious 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 Araújo being booked for his complaints. When Araújo – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s limitations? Outmaneuvered? – lunged at Cucurella a few minutes later the outcome was certain and virtually resolved the game.

Tactical Differences and Final Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, shielded in a deep line and aimed to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture 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 reduced to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, secured a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could probably have scored a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can shift in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through quickness and strength is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, pursued by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the contest was already over and decisively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, exited the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the points.