Estevao Outshines Lamine Yamal to Demonstrate Why He Is Chelsea’s Exceptional Gem

Each move Lamine Yamal executes oozes quality. At times when he is moving about appearing disheartened, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a top player. He softly controls the ball rather than hitting it, creating impressive power from restricted back-lift. He functions on the balls of his feet, always vigilant, consistently able to go both ways. He moves smoothly rather than runs, but does so at velocity. He has already finished as second place in the Ballon d’Or. But he was not the best 18-year-old right-wing forward on the pitch on Tuesday, nowhere near.

Developing Prospect 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 influence since netting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have brought four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s just the beginning, but Brazil may eventually have uncovered the player they desperately wanted to have identified in Neymar.

Estevao wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s dominant win over 10-man Barcelona

Estêvão’s goal, scored after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t fully been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was dismissed just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at incredible speed, feinting left and right, evading opponents and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Face-to-Face Battle and Powerful Edge

The taunt of “You’re just a poor Estevao,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, 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 resilient player – and consistent Premier League experience is only expected to enhance that.

It’s been a trait 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 fundamentally by having some larger blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the midway point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The tactic of using Pedro Neto and his pace through the middle was convincingly validated.

Set-Piece Expertise and Backline Solidity

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no big surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it feels like Premier League clubs are playing 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 adorn it with a short pass in a narrow space and a skillful move. However elaborate 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 advantage doesn’t just appear from an goal-scoring point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only occasionally and seemed at times surprised, perhaps even discouraged by a couple of tackles.

That irritation 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 Araújo being cautioned for his protests. When Araújo – remained angry? Aware of his side’s weaknesses? Outsmarted? – charged at the opponent a few minutes later the outcome was inevitable and virtually settled the game.

Game Plan Variations and Closing Conclusion

Perhaps Barcelona could have hunkered down, defended in a defensive formation and tried to grab something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more diverse in approach than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.

A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has nowhere to go when they are cut down to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, scored a third from a substitute and, if they’d actually 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 weaken at English sides but the tendency of Premier League control through pace and power is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was replaced with 10 minutes to go, strolling to the bench with a sense of rueful acceptance, pursued by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the battle was already over and decisively so. Estevao, the clear victor, left the pitch to a enthusiastic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the win.