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Every action Lamine Yamal performs oozes excellence. At times when he is moving about seeming disheartened, which he did often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless elegance of a star. He caresses the ball rather than kicking it, producing extraordinary power from minimal back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, always alert, always able to go in any direction. He glides rather than sprints, but does so at speed. He has already ended up as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Developing Talent Estevao Creates His Imprint

In Estêvão, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could climb to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could end up as one of the top-tier. He has been creating more and more of an impact since getting the dying moments winner against Liverpool last month. His last four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may finally have found the player they desperately wanted to have secured in Neymar.

Estevao amazing goal brightens Chelsea’s impressive win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t truly been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was red-carded just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea retrieving the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, deceiving left and right, shaking off defenders and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Contest and Physical Superiority

The slogan 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 come out on top.

Estevao 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 dominated 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 middle 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 validated.

Set-Piece Expertise and Defensive Toughness

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it materialized. It was no great surprise it came from a set play, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are playing with diamonds 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 ornate the finish, though, the cause was a smooth interchange from a corner that created space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

But the superiority doesn’t just appear from an attacking point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only occasionally and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of interceptions.

That annoyance would have serious consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal diving over the defender's leg in an attempt to win a free-kick, which in turn led to Araújo being booked for his protests. When the defender – continued fuming? Mindful of his side’s weaknesses? Beaten? – dived at Cucurella a few minutes later the conclusion was certain and practically settled the game.

Game Plan Contrasts and Final Outcome

Perhaps Barcelona could have defended deeply, defended in a deep line 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 attitude than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are reduced to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d really needed to, could likely have notched a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can shift in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through quickness and strength is clear.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes left, walking to the bench with a sense of sorrowful acceptance, followed by a few of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the contest was already lost and conclusively so. Estevao, the clear victor, left the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the points.