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Everything Lamine Yamal does oozes quality. Even when he is moving about looking dejected, which he demonstrated often at Stamford Bridge, he does it with the nonchalant grace of a superstar. He caresses the ball rather than hitting it, creating remarkable power from limited back-lift. He operates on the balls of his feet, always alert, consistently able to go in any direction. He moves smoothly rather than runs, but does so at speed. He has already finished 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.

Rising Prospect Estevao Leaves His Imprint

In Estêvão, signed from Palmeiras for a fee that could rise to £52m, Chelsea have secured a player who could end up as one of the elite. He has been building more and more of an influence since netting the late winner against Liverpool last month. His previous four starts for Chelsea have produced four goals, and he also struck in both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break. It’s very early, but Brazil may finally have uncovered the player they urgently wanted to have found in Neymar.

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

Estevao'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 dismissed just before half-time, was a exemplary. In part, it was about Chelsea winning the ball back and Reece James’s pass, but mostly it was about the Brazilian darting at terrifying speed, feinting left and right, evading opponents and driving a shot high past the goalkeeper.

Head-to-Head Contest and Robust Edge

The slogan of “You’re just a inferior Estêvão,” directed at Lamine Yamal may have been exaggeratedly harsh on the Spaniard, and may not have fit, but there was no questioning 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 robust player – and regular Premier League experience is only likely to strengthen that.

It’s been a characteristic of the Champions League this season just how much of a athletic edge Premier League teams have over their European rivals. Liverpool have faced difficulties physically in the Premier League this season but outpowered Real Madrid. Newcastle beat Athletic Bilbao essentially by having some larger blokes to challenge for balls in the box.

And Chelsea, after some uneasy moments in the opening quarter, by the halfway point of the first half had imposed themselves on Barcelona. The ploy of using a speedy attacker and his pace through the middle was decisively validated.

Set-Piece Expertise and Defensive Strength

The first goal had felt close for at least five minutes before it came. It was no great surprise it came from a set-piece, an area of the game in which it seems 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 fancy flick. However ornate the finish, though, the reason was a precise interchange from a corner that generated space for a Chelsea player to cross for a teammate.

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

That irritation 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 Araújo being cautioned for his complaints. When the defender – continued fuming? Aware of his side’s limitations? Beaten? – dived at the opponent a few minutes later the result was inevitable and virtually resolved the game.

Strategic Differences and Closing Result

Perhaps Barcelona could have dug in, shielded in a deep line and tried 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 few options when they are cut down to 10. They retreated a bit, but Chelsea still kept advancing into the space behind the back line, scored a third from a substitute and, if they’d truly needed to, could likely have scored a couple more.

It’s only the initial phase and things can evolve in the spring as built-up fatigue begins to drain at English sides but the trend of Premier League dominance through pace and strength is obvious.

Lamine Yamal was withdrawn with 10 minutes left, strolling to the bench with a sense of sorrowful acceptance, accompanied by a scattering of unenthusiastic jeers. But there was no need to goad him; the contest was already lost and definitively so. Estêvão, the obvious victor, departed the pitch to a ecstatic ovation three minutes later. His were the praises, and Chelsea’s the victory.