Estevao scored a wonder goal for Chelsea during a statement 3-0 win over 10-player Barcelona in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues went ahead through Jules Kounde’s own goal after two previous goals were ruled out in an impressive first half, with Liam Delap also on target in a dominant display.
But it was Estevao who stole the headlines with a glorious solo goal on a night where much of the pre-match headlines had centred around his battle with fellow wonderkid Lamine Yamal of Barca.
It was already a difficult night for Barcelona before Ronald Araujo was sent off just before half-time for a second bookable offence, with their risky high-line consistently exposed by Chelsea’s pacey forwards.
Chelsea climb to fifth in the Champions League standings, with Barcelona at risk of missing out on the top eight as they slipped down to 15th after the second defeat of their European campaign.
Chelsea vs Barcelona: The goals and key moments
Enzo looked to have given Chelsea the perfect start after just three minutes, smashing home Wesley Fofana’s cut-back to send Stamford Bridge wild.
But the celebrations didn’t last long. Referee Slavko Vincic spotted a handball by Fofana in the build-up, and VAR confirmed the decision.
Replays showed Fofana cushioning the ball on his chest before it flicked off his upper arm, helping him slip past the Barcelona defender.
Chelsea were almost punished immediately. Ferran Torres found himself completely free in the box with only Robert Sánchez to beat, but the Barca forward dragged his shot wide despite the keeper being beaten.
Chelsea continued to trouble Barcelona’s high line, and Enzo thought he’d scored again on 24 minutes when he headed in a free-kick. But that too was chalked off, with Trevoh Chalobah judged offside after getting the slightest touch.
Their pressure finally paid off only a few minutes later though as they finally had a legitimate goal to celebrate. Cucurella timed his run perfectly to stay onside, and his low cross caused chaos for Kounde, who couldn’t sort out his feet as the ball bounced off both of them and trickled over the line.
Things got much worse for Barcelona before half-time when captain Ronald Araujo was sent off for a second bookable offence after a risky challenge on Cucurella when already on a yellow which saw Chelsea go in a goal and a player up at half-time.
Estevao wins battle of the wonderkids
Chelsea’s celebrations were cut short for the third time of the evening after Andrey Santos’ shot squirmed through Joan Garcia’s fingertips but Ajejandro Garnacho – who had done some great work to get the better of Kounde and find his team-mate in the middle – was once again offside by inches.
The night was billed ahead of the game as the battle between generational talents, Estavao and Yamine Yamal, and it was the Chelsea teenage sensation who ensured he won the battle on the night as he stepped up with a sensational goal to double the Blues’ lead.
The 18-year-old picked up the ball in the right channel, twisted and turned past one challenge, then another, before firing an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
Any faint hopes of a Barca comeback were extinguished when Chelsea once again beat the offside trap for Garnacho to tee up substitute Delap, who made no mistake for his first Champions League goal.
It was a procession for Chelsea from there on in, with a long series of passes in added time greeted with a chorus of oles to compound Barcelona’s misery in West London.
