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Each move Lamine Yamal does exudes class. On occasions where he is moving about seeming disheartened, which he did frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a superstar. He softly controls the ball rather than striking it, producing remarkable power from limited back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, consistently able to go both ways. He glides rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already placed as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, far from it.

Developing Prospect Estêvão Leaves His Imprint

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise 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 impression since netting the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent four starts for Chelsea have yielded four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s premature, but Brazil may finally have uncovered the player they desperately wanted to have found in Neymar.

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

Estevao's goal, executed after 55 minutes to definitively 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 exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea winning the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at frightening speed, feinting left and right, shaking off defenders and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Robust Superiority

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 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 durable player – and regular 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 bodily 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 basically by having some larger blokes to go for balls in the box.

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

Set-Piece Expertise and Backline Toughness

The first goal had felt imminent for at least five minutes before it came. It was no big surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are competing with gems while the rest of the world is still using conkers. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to embellish it with a one-two in a narrow space and a skillful move. However embellished the finish, though, the cause was a precise interchange from a corner that generated space for a Chelsea player to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

That annoyance 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 cautioned for his protests. When the defender – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s shortcomings? Beaten? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was unavoidable and practically settled the game.

Strategic Variations and Final Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, defended in a low block and hoped to snatch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture two managers more diverse in mindset than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has few options when they are reduced to 10. They dropped off a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, got a third from Liam Delap and, if they’d actually needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the group stage and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League dominance through pace and force is evident.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes to go, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, pursued by a handful of half-hearted jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the battle was already finished and definitively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, departed the pitch to a rapturous ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the win.