Chelsea produced a dominant efficiency at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, beating 10-man Barcelona 3–0 in a Champions League league-phase match.
The highlight earlier than the sport was on two teenage stars, Chelsea’s Estevao and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. And it was Estevao who stole the present with a shocking solo purpose. Ten minutes into the second half, the 18-year-old picked up the ball on the correct, used fast footwork to beat two defenders, and fired into the highest nook previous Joan Garcia. It was his tenth purpose of the season in his first yr at Chelsea.
Barcelona have been already a purpose down and had captain Ronald Araujo despatched off shortly earlier than half-time for a second yellow card. Estevao’s strike made their job much more tough.
Chelsea sealed the win within the 73rd minute when substitute Liam Delap completed from shut vary. The purpose was first dominated out for offside, however VAR overturned the choice.
Chelsea had been the higher facet from the beginning. Enzo Fernández twice put the ball within the internet early on, however each targets have been disallowed — the primary for a handball and the second for offside. Barcelona additionally missed an enormous likelihood when Ferran Torres shot extensive in a one-on-one scenario.
The opening purpose got here within the twenty seventh minute after a short-corner routine, with Jules Koundé by chance turning the ball into his personal internet underneath stress.
Barcelona struggled to reply, providing little going ahead, and the house followers even mocked Yamal as he was substituted late within the match.
The end result leaves Chelsea, again within the Champions League after two seasons away, with three wins from their first 5 matches. They now have a robust likelihood of ending within the prime eight, which might assure a spot within the final 16.
Chelsea are additionally in good type domestically, sitting second within the Premier League forward of Sunday’s conflict with leaders Arsenal.
