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Everything Lamine Yamal executes radiates excellence. At times when he is strolling about looking dejected, which he demonstrated quite a bit at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the casual elegance of a star. He gently touches the ball rather than hitting it, producing extraordinary power from minimal back-lift. He plays on the balls of his feet, continually vigilant, repeatedly able to go either way. He glides rather than dashes, but does so at velocity. He has already finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the top 18-year-old right-flank forward on the pitch on Tuesday, not even close.

Developing Talent Estêvão Makes His Imprint

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

Estêvão wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s impressive 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 exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea winning the ball back and a teammate's pass, but primarily it was about the Brazilian sprinting at terrifying speed, feinting left and right, shaking off markers and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Battle and Physical Edge

The slogan of “You’re just a poor Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been extremely harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have scanned, but there was no doubting which of the two had prevailed.

Estevao is 80 days older and has played 22 games fewer but at the moment he looks a more durable player – and consistent Premier League experience is only likely to strengthen 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 overwhelmed Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao basically by having some more physical blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the middle 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 decisively justified.

Restart Expertise and Defensive Toughness

The opener had felt imminent for at least five minutes before it materialized. It was no great surprise it came from a dead-ball situation, an area of the game in which it appears like Premier League clubs are playing with precious stones while the rest of the world is still using basic tools. Barcelona can’t score a normal own goal, of course, but have to enhance it with a quick exchange in a tight space and a skillful move. However embellished the finish, though, the reason was a slick interchange from a corner that generated space for a Chelsea player to cross for a teammate.

But the edge doesn’t just manifest from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times shocked, perhaps even discouraged 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 cautioned for his protests. When Araújo – remained angry? Conscious of his side’s weaknesses? Beaten? – lunged at the opponent a few minutes later the result was inevitable and practically decided the game.

Tactical Differences and Final Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, protected in a deep line and hoped to pinch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to picture two managers more different in mindset than David Moyes and the Barcelona coach.

A team arranged to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are reduced to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, got a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could likely have notched a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can evolve in the spring as accumulated fatigue begins to sap at English sides but the pattern of Premier League supremacy through speed and force is clear.

Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes remaining, wandering to the bench with a sense of rueful submission, accompanied by a scattering of weak jeers. But there was no need to taunt him; the fight was already lost and conclusively so. Estevao, the clear victor, departed the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the accolades, and Chelsea’s the victory.