Football Dec 07, 2025

Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona: Estevao outshines Lamine Yamal in dominant Champions League win

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona: Estevao outshines Lamine Yamal in dominant Champions League win

Estevao outshone Lamine Yamal by scoring a stunning second-half goal in a dominant 3-0 win for Chelsea over 10-man Barcelona that takes them into the Champions League top eight.

In the first meeting between the two best 18-year-olds in world football, it was Chelsea's Brazilian sensation that stole the show, thundering an effort into the roof of the net for his side's second after beating Pau Cubarsi, on a disappointing night for Yamal.

Marc Cucurella, the player of the match, did a job on his Spain team-mate, locking down Barcelona's biggest threat in perhaps his greatest performance in blue, as Chelsea became the first side to stop the Spanish champions from scoring in 53 games.

Chelsea led deservedly through Jules Kounde's unfortunate first-half own goal after Pedro Neto's strike ricocheted off him and, once Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo was sent off just before the break for a second booking, only one side was going to win.

Substitute Liam Delap added Chelsea's third - his first goal since the Club World Cup - after a VAR review overturned the decision to rule it out for offside. That was the first to go in Chelsea's favour, having seen three chalked off beforehand.

Enzo Maresca made the bold decision to start without a recognised striker, Neto playing as the false nine with Joao Pedro dropped, and it paid off handsomely with Chelsea bossing the Spanish champions to move fifth in the Champions League standings.

It sets Chelsea up perfectly ahead of a huge game against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, live on SportNews, and underlines their credentials as contenders for major honours this season.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to BeIN Sports on Estevao:

"The goal was very good. As Raphinha said, probably in the next 10, 15 years, Estevao and Lamine Yamal are probably both going to be the next Messi and Ronaldo.

"But for both, they are 18. They need to enjoy, try to improve every day. This the most important thing for them."

Chelsea's Estevao to Amazon Prime:

"I don't really have any words to sum up how I am feeling right now. It really was the perfect night. I am just grateful to God for making everything happen for me. Onwards and upwards from here.

"It was all very quick for me [for my goal]. It happened before I knew it. I just found some space and wiggled my way through and scored the goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career and I hope to score many more.

"Yes, it was definitely the most special moment in my career. I hope I keep scoring more and more for many years."

Chelsea player of the match Marc Cucurella to Amazon Prime:

"The main difference is that Estevao maybe arrived now to Europe and [he is] maybe a few years back to Lamine [Yamal]. But he showed today that he has a lot of personality and he has good quality."

Asked if Estevao is catching up quickly to Yamal: "Yeah. He's a special guy. We have good people in the dressing room, so hopefully we can help him."

On his performance: "I feel very proud. [My journey] was never easy. The football career always has ups and downs. The most important thing is consistency. Always try to improve, to work hard.

"After these moments, everything always makes sense. We sacrifice a lot of things. When you are young, you need to have a more mature life. You can do all the things that people are doing.

"But I think after these moments, after these performances, everything makes sense."

Tags:

football report id:547986

Share this article

Related Posts

Man City 1-2 Real Madrid (Agg: 1-5): Ten-man City knocked out of Champions League as Vinicius Jr scores two

Man City 1-2 Real Madrid (Agg: 1-5): Ten-man City knocked out of Champions League as Vinicius Jr scores two

Manchester City have been knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 as Vinicius Jr scored twice in a 2-1 win for Real Madrid that sealed...

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd captain chasing Premier League assist record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd captain chasing Premier League assist record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne

Bruno Fernandes has the Premier League assist record in his sights with eight games left to overtake Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's haul of 20.Th...

Arne Slot: Liverpool boss responds to Jamie Carragher's criticism that his side are a 'team of individuals'

Arne Slot: Liverpool boss responds to Jamie Carragher's criticism that his side are a 'team of individuals'

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has responded to Jamie Carragher's suggestions that his side were 'a team of individuals' during their disappointing 1-1 draw...

Man Utd want to keep Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford this summer - Paper talk and football transfer gossip

Man Utd want to keep Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford this summer - Paper talk and football transfer gossip

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday's newspapers...PREMIER LEAGUEManchester United have told Bruno Fernandes that the club will do eve...

Africa Cup of Nations: CAS confirms Senegal appeal after controversial decision to strip them of AFCON title

Africa Cup of Nations: CAS confirms Senegal appeal after controversial decision to strip them of AFCON title

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have confirmed an appeal from Senegal which aims to overturn the controversial decision to strip them of thei...

Why Pep Guardiola has struggled to turn domestic dominance into repeated Champions League glory at Man City

Why Pep Guardiola has struggled to turn domestic dominance into repeated Champions League glory at Man City

Pep Guardiola was brought to Manchester City to get them over the line in the Champions League, but just one triumph in a decade shows that not even t...