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Everything Lamine Yamal executes exudes class. On occasions where he is strolling about appearing downcast, which he did quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a top player. He softly controls the ball rather than hitting it, generating impressive power from restricted back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, continually vigilant, consistently able to go both ways. He slides rather than dashes, but does so at pace. He has already placed 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, far from it.

Rising Star Estevao Leaves His Imprint

In Estêvão, brought in from Palmeiras for a fee that could climb to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could evolve as one of the top-tier. He has been creating more and more of an impression since getting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may finally have discovered the player they keenly wanted to have identified in Neymar.

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

Estêvão’s goal, executed after 55 minutes to completely seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was sent off just before half-time, was a masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and a teammate's pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian sprinting at terrifying speed, dummying left and right, brushing off opponents and lashing a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Powerful Advantage

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, but there was no questioning which of the two had triumphed.

Estevao is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more durable player – and frequent Premier League experience is only expected to strengthen that.

It’s been a trait of the Champions League this season just how much of a bodily edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao fundamentally by having some larger blokes to attack balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had asserted their authority on Barcelona. The tactic of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was emphatically validated.

Dead-Ball Mastery and Resilient Strength

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no major surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are competing with gems while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a short pass in a narrow space and a backheel nutmeg. However ornate the finish, though, the origin was a precise interchange from a corner that created space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

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

That annoyance would have major consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal diving over Cucurella’s leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to the Barcelona captain being yellow-carded for his complaints. When Araújo – remained angry? Mindful of his side’s shortcomings? Beaten? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was certain and effectively settled the game.

Strategic Differences and Final Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, 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 diverse in attitude than David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team organized to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are diminished to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could probably have added a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can change in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the pattern of Premier League supremacy through pace and power is evident.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes to go, walking to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, accompanied by a handful of weak jeers. But there was no need to provoke him; the battle was already lost and conclusively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, exited the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the win.