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Each move Lamine Yamal performs oozes class. On occasions where he is strolling about looking dejected, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the effortless style of a star. He softly controls the ball rather than hitting it, generating extraordinary power from minimal back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, constantly alert, always able to go in any direction. He slides rather than sprints, but does so at speed. He has already finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the finest 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Emerging Star Estevao Creates His Mark

In Estevao, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could climb to £52m, Chelsea have acquired a player who could end up as one of the elite. He has been creating more and more of an impact since scoring the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His previous 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 premature, but Brazil may finally have discovered the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.

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

Estêvão’s goal, converted after 55 minutes to definitively 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 regaining the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian darting at frightening speed, feinting left and right, shaking off defenders and hammering a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Direct Contest and Powerful Advantage

The taunt of “You’re just a inferior Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly 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 bodily 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 fundamentally by having some larger blokes to attack 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 decisively vindicated.

Set-Piece Expertise and Backline Strength

The opener had felt approaching for at least five minutes before it arrived. 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 conkers. Barcelona can’t score a regular own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a short pass in a confined space and a backheel nutmeg. However embellished the finish, though, the cause was a precise interchange from a corner that opened up space for Marc Cucurella to cross for a teammate.

But the edge doesn’t just show from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of his marker only occasionally and seemed at times surprised, perhaps even demoralized by a couple of blocks.

That frustration would have serious consequences as it led to Lamine Yamal plunging over the defender'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 – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s limitations? Outmaneuvered? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the result was certain and effectively decided the game.

Game Plan Contrasts and Closing Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, defended in a low block 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 diverse in mindset than the Everton boss 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 fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept pushing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could likely have notched a couple more.

It’s only the opening round and things can evolve in the spring as collected fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the tendency of Premier League supremacy through quickness and strength is clear.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes left, wandering to the bench with a sense of sorrowful resignation, pursued by a handful of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the fight was already lost and definitively so. Estevao, the undeniable victor, departed the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.