Lamine Yamal’s impressive presence makes him a key figure in Barcelona’s offensive play, drawing attention from fans in stadiums and at home. Therefore, it was no surprise that Chelsea was monitoring the 18-year-old during his visit to Stamford Bridge for a critical UEFA Champions League match, where a victory would revive both teams’ chances for a spot in the top eight and the round of 16. Chelsea’s strategy paid off, as they effectively contained Yamal and achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory over Barcelona, marking a standout moment in their Champions League run.
Barcelona faced several setbacks that amplified their struggles—Jules Kounde’s humorous own goal kicked off a bad day, followed by Ronald Araujo receiving a second yellow card just before halftime. Chelsea’s performance stood out as they maintained an advantage, with Araujo’s red card further tipping the scales, even though the damage was already done by then.
In the first half, Chelsea displayed a nearly equal match against Barcelona, slightly exceeding them in possession, touches, and pass attempts. However, their aggressive approach clearly aimed to stifle Barcelona’s high-caliber attack, particularly with Robert Lewandowski back from injury. By halftime, Barcelona managed only three shots on goal, their lowest first-half total this season.
Yamal’s struggles significantly contributed to the team’s downfall, as he recorded just 64 touches, the least he’s had in a single game this season, limiting Barcelona’s capacity to launch attacks. His passing accuracy fell to 72.2% on 36 passes, below his usual 80.8%. Even his first half, which had 32 touches and 18 passes, reflected a poor performance, with Chelsea effectively blocking his passing lanes and consistently applying pressure. His passing accuracy in the first half was merely 66.7%, one of his weakest performances.
On the other hand, another teenager captured the limelight—Chelsea’s Estevao, who is slightly older than Yamal and is enjoying a breakout season. He netted Chelsea’s second goal in the 55th minute, skillfully maneuvering past Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde to score from a difficult angle. This goal adds to a remarkable month for the young Brazilian, who has scored nine times for club and country, placing him second only to Kylian Mbappé for youngest players in Champions League history who have scored in all their first three matches.
The accolades for Estevao continued post-match, with Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher drawing comparisons to legends like Diego Maradona and Robert Pires. Carragher noted Estevao’s remarkable dribbling skills, aligning him with players like Henry, who could single-handedly change games with their ability to maneuver through defenses.
Henry emphasized Estevao’s exceptional dribbling talent, stating, “Let him play; we need to appreciate these types of players and their style of play.”
Fan Take: This match not only highlighted the rising talent of players like Estevao and Yamal but also underscored the ever-shifting balance of power in European soccer. As young stars emerge, soccer fans can look forward to an exhilarating evolution in the sport’s competitive landscape.
