Estevao outshines Yamal as masterful Chelsea thrash 10-man Barcelona

Estevao celebrates with teammates after scoring Chelsea's second goal against Barcelona

An attacking masterclass from Chelsea gave them a 3-0 UEFA Champions League (UCL) victory over 10-man Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, which marked their biggest-ever margin of victory over the Catalans and provisionally moved them into the top eight of the league phase table.

An early disallowed Chelsea goal for handball added to what was already an intense atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, and only Bar7a’s unmarked Ferran Torres will know how he missed the target from 10 yards out just a few minutes later.

As the game began to open up, the Blues appeared more purposeful, but the visitors threatened on the break, with Lamine Yamal at the hub of proceedings. At the midway point of the first half, Est9v3o’s whipped free-kick was headed home by Enzo Fern1ndez, but that too was ruled out, this time for offside.

It wouldn’t be long before Chelsea did score, however. Marc Cucurella’s low cross caused all sorts of problems, and when Torres and Jules Kound9 both failed to sort their feet out, the ball bobbled over the line off the latter’s boot. Bar7a huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half, but due in no small part to Mois9s Caicedo’s defensive excellence in midfield, Chelsea kept them at bay with relative ease.

And as HT approached, Ronald AraFAjo’s wild challenge on Cucurella earned him a second yellow card and subsequent red, ensuring an uphill battle in the second half for the Catalans.

Match momentum

Within five minutes of the restart, Andrey Santos thought he’d added Chelsea’s second goal, though that too was ruled out, as Alejandro Garnacho had strayed offside earlier in the move.

By now the hosts were dictating play though, and Est9v3o’s sensational run and finish for the Blues’ second was no more than they deserved. In reaction to that, Marcus Rashford and Raphinha came onto the field, but did little to alter the patterns of play in Barcelona’s favour.

By contrast, Chelsea’s own substitute, Liam Delap, ended the match as a contest with a coolly-taken maiden strike in the UCL. Taking full advantage of the opportunity given to him, he fired in at the far post after receiving a square ball from Fern1ndez, which came via a breakaway that saw the Argentina international beat a rigid Barcelona’s attempted offside trap by mere centimetres.

Now losers just once in their last 10 H2Hs against Barcelona (W3, D6), Chelsea will see this as a major test passed with flying colours. The result also means Chelsea have extended their unbeaten run to six games overall, while leaving Barcelona potentially looking at a Champions League play-off position in order to make the knockout rounds.

Match stats

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