Everything Lamine Yamal performs exudes class. Even when he is strolling about seeming downcast, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant style of a top player. He softly controls the ball rather than striking it, producing remarkable power from limited back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, always aware, repeatedly able to go both ways. He moves smoothly rather than sprints, but does so at pace. He has already placed 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, nowhere near.
Emerging Star Estevao Makes His Impact
In Estevao, 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 building more and more of an influence since scoring the last-minute winner against Liverpool last month. His most recent four starts for Chelsea have produced four goals, and he also scored in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s just the beginning, but Brazil may at last have found the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.
Estevao wonder goal brightens Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona
Estevao's goal, executed after 55 minutes to absolutely seal a win that hadn’t really been in doubt from the moment the Barcelona captain was red-carded just before half-time, was a masterpiece. In part, it was about Chelsea regaining the ball back and a teammate's pass, but mainly it was about the Brazilian sprinting at terrifying speed, feinting left and right, shaking off defenders and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.
Head-to-Head Battle and Physical Superiority
The slogan of “You’re just a shit Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been overly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have rhymed, but there was no questioning 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 robust player – and regular 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 athletic edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have struggled physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao essentially by having some more physical blokes to go for balls in the box.
And Chelsea, after some nervous moments in the opening quarter, by the middle point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The strategy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was convincingly vindicated.
Dead-Ball Dominance and Backline Strength
The first goal had felt imminent 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 seems like Premier League clubs are operating with diamonds 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 narrow space and a skillful move. However elaborate the finish, though, the cause was a smooth interchange from a corner that generated space for Marc Cucurella to cross for Enzo Fernández.
But the superiority doesn’t just manifest from an offensive point of view. Lamine Yamal got the better of Marc Cucurella only infrequently and seemed at times stunned, perhaps even disheartened by a couple of interceptions.
That irritation would have major 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 Araújo being cautioned for his complaints. When Araújo – remained angry? Aware of his side’s limitations? Beaten? – lunged at Cucurella a few minutes later the outcome was inevitable and virtually settled the game.
Strategic Contrasts and Closing Outcome
Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, defended in a defensive formation and tried to snatch something on the break, as Everton had done at Manchester United on Monday, but it’s hard to imagine two managers more contrasting in attitude than the Everton boss and Hansi Flick.
A team set up to defend with a line as high as Barcelona’s really has no escape when they are reduced to 10. They fell back a bit, but Chelsea still kept driving into the space behind the back line, got a third from a substitute and, if they’d really needed to, could probably have notched 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 tendency of Premier League supremacy through pace and power is obvious.
Lamine Yamal was substituted with 10 minutes left, walking to the bench with a sense of rueful resignation, followed by a handful of weak jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the fight was already over and conclusively so. Estêvão, the clear victor, left the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.
