Estêvão wonder goal lights up Chelsea’s statement win over 10-man Barcelona | Champions League

There can’t have been many moments throughout Lamine Yamal’s quick, golden profession when the Barcelona winger has needed to let one other wonderkid dominate the stage. The accolades have come his method but it surely was completely different at Stamford Bridge.

Lamine Yamal was barely given a kick by Marc Cucurella, who delighted in neutralising his worldwide teammate, and was unable to do something to make his first assembly with Estêvão Willian stay as much as expectations.

The battle between two of one of the best children on this planet may hardly have been gained extra emphatically by Chelsea’s boy from Brazil. This was Estêvão seizing his alternative to show that the hype is justified.

The 18‑12 months‑outdated, who’s three months older than Lamine Yamal, tore Barça to shreds and it’s not an exaggeration to say that the Brazilian regarded like Lionel Messi when he scored a objective that may certainly go down as one of the vital charming solo efforts in Champions League historical past.

No marvel Enzo Maresca didn’t hesitate to start out Estêvão in opposition to the champions of Spain. This was {the teenager}’s fourth objective in his previous 4 begins for Chelsea. Speak about fearless. Speak about making an impression. Estêvão, bear in mind, moved to England solely final summer season. It could not have been stunning if Chelsea had eased him in gently. Typically, although, exceptions must be made.

Chelsea have guess huge on Estêvão, paying £52m to signal him from Palmeiras, they usually will need to have felt smug when he put them two up in opposition to Barça by rounding off a spectacular run with a firecracker of a shot at Joan García’s close to submit.

All of it occurred so shortly. Pau Cubarsí was left with twisted blood and Estêvão had the energy to carry off a problem from Alejandro Balde. Barça didn’t know the place to look. The ball was glued to Estêvão’s ft, regardless that he was shifting at blistering velocity, and the shot along with his weaker proper foot was unloaded earlier than anybody had time to react.

Not that Estêvão turning into the third teenager – after Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé – to attain in his first three Champions League begins was the one spotlight for Chelsea. They delivered one other convincing efficiency with out the injured Cole Palmer and are as much as fifth within the standings after placing three previous Barça with out reply.

Maresca is constructing one thing. Pushed on by one other excellent midfield show from Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea overwhelmed Barça. Hansi Flick’s aspect misplaced their captain, Ronald Araújo, to a purple card on the finish of a torrid first half and look more and more unlikely to complete within the high eight after taking seven factors from their first 5 video games.

Barça had been pallid. An early miss from Ferran Torres, who shot vast after a defensive mix-up, was one of the best they needed to supply. The 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski was ineffective up entrance, Cucurella relished the duty of coping with Lamine Yamal’s runs down the correct and there was by no means any level when Barça regarded able to coping with Chelsea’s prowess at lifeless balls.

There was frustration for Enzo Fernández, who had two targets disallowed from set items when the sport was goalless. Chelsea simply needed to belief themselves, although. They recovered from a free begin and dominated midfield. Caicedo, Fernández and Reece James had been just too bodily for Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López and Eric García.

A lot of Maresca’s plan was modelled round concentrating on Barça’s excessive‑wire offside entice. He deployed the busy, bustling Pedro Neto because the central striker – a shock transfer provided that João Pedro and Liam Delap had been accessible – and the plan virtually labored when Estêvão launched the Portuguese ahead, whose shot went over.

Estêvão, courageous and skilful on the correct, was outshining Lamine Yamal within the battle of the teenage wing sensations and Chelsea acquired the objective they deserved after they once more exploited Barça’s frailties at set items. They took a brief nook on the correct, Alejandro Garnacho discovered Cucurella and the left-back’s cutback ended with Jules Koundé bundling Neto’s flick into his personal web.

The concession summed up Barça’s half. That they had light as an attacking drive and performed with an air of entitlement. The outrage when play was waved on after Lamine Yamal tried to purchase a free-kick off Cucurella was absurd. Araújo was booked for dissent and was quickly sheepishly eradicating the captain’s armband after receiving a second yellow for fouling Cucurella simply earlier than half-time.

Barcelona couldn’t stay with Chelsea’s managed aggression. Marcus Rashford got here on for Torres at the beginning of the second half however nothing modified. Chelsea remained dominant. Andrey Santos got here on for Malo Gusto, who was on a reserving, and shortly had a objective disallowed for offside. Barça had accepted their destiny. The challenges had been feeble they usually had been in bother when a turnover in midfield within the fifty fifth minute led to Chelsea doubling their lead.

The report books will, after all, present an help for James acquired an help. Actually, although, it was all about Estêvão. He took the ball from James, ran at Cubarsí and wriggled into the tiniest of gaps. Balde got here throughout however Estêvão is stronger than he seems to be. Stamford Bridge erupted when his shot flew into the highest nook.

Barça had been crushed by sheer brilliance. It was 3-0 when Fernández unselfishly squared for Delap and the substitute clipped house his first objective since June. Chelsea cruised. They host Arsenal on Sunday and can know something is feasible with Estêvão on this temper.