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Everything Lamine Yamal executes exudes class. Even when he is moving about looking disheartened, which he did frequently at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless style of a top player. He caresses the ball rather than hitting it, creating extraordinary power from minimal back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, continually alert, consistently able to go either way. He slides rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already ended up as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the top 18-year-old right-sided forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Developing Talent Estêvão Makes His Mark

In Estevao, recruited from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could evolve as one of the top-tier. He has been building more and more of an impact since netting the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent 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 just the beginning, but Brazil may finally have found the player they urgently wanted to have secured in Neymar.

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

Estevao's goal, scored 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 Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian scurrying at incredible speed, dummying left and right, shaking off defenders and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Battle and Physical Superiority

The chant of “You’re just a inferior Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no disputing 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 expected to enhance that.

It’s been a feature of the Champions League this season just how much of a physical edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have had issues physically in the Premier League this season but overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao essentially by having some larger blokes to go for balls in the box.

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

Set-Piece Mastery and Backline Strength

The initial strike had felt approaching 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 appears like Premier League clubs are competing with diamonds while the rest of the world is still using ordinary items. Barcelona can’t score a standard own goal, of course, but have to adorn it with a one-two in a tight space and a backheel nutmeg. However embellished the finish, though, the origin was a precise interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.

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

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 yellow-carded for his protests. When Araújo – was he still seething? Conscious of his side’s limitations? Outsmarted? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was certain and effectively resolved the game.

Game Plan Contrasts and Closing Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, defended in a defensive formation and aimed to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to envision two managers more diverse in mindset than David Moyes and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are diminished to 10. They dropped off a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, secured a third from a substitute and, if they’d really needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can evolve in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the trend of Premier League supremacy through speed and power is evident.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes left, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful acceptance, pursued by a handful of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the battle was already lost and definitively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, left the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the honours, and Chelsea’s the points.