Estêvão Willian Almeida de Oliveira Gonçalves, tonight the whole world knows your name. From the streets of São Paulo to Champions League nights at Stamford Bridge, 18 years of age with the world at his feet.
Maresca Masterclass
It was yet another game where, when the line-ups dropped, Chelsea fans looked at each other and thought, “What has Maresca done here?” Come full-time, they knew exactly what he had done. Enzo Maresca’s track record in big games is nothing short of exceptional. PSG in the summer, Barça now, and several other scalps against elite sides and managers he always seems to get it right when it matters most.
Chelsea’s setup was clearly designed to exploit Barça’s high line and press them relentlessly. Every single player who started knew the game plan and executed it to perfection. The ball barely reached their starboy Lamine Yamal and when it did, his Spanish counterpart Marc Cucurella shut him down completely.
Barca Woes
Barcelona looked like the team on the back foot from the very first minute. They did, however, have a huge chance fall to Ferran Torres in the 5th minute, but he couldn’t find the back of the net and squandered a golden opportunity. After that moment, Barça struggled to even string passes together, let alone threaten Sánchez in the Chelsea goal.
A short corner routine in the 27th minute led to the opening goal of the night, Cucurella's ball into the box caused mayhem. Neto directed the ball towards goal which was kept out by Ferran Torres but it was Kounde's trailing leg that bundled the ball over the net giving Chelsea a well merited lead.
Just before half-time, things went from bad to worse for Barça as their captain, Ronald Araújo, decided it was a good idea to clatter into Cucurella despite already being on a yellow. The referee had no choice but to show him a second yellow and send him off. From that point on, Chelsea had complete control of the match.
Ruthless Chelsea
Chelsea started the second half exactly the way they began the first: on the front foot and with clear intentions of putting the game to bed as quickly as possible. They opened the half with yet another disallowed goal — this time Andrey Santos was flagged offside, just as his midfield partner Enzo Fernández had been twice in the first 45.
But Chelsea didn’t slow down. Wave after wave of attacks, constant pressure, Barça hanging on by a thread it felt like only a matter of time before the second goal arrived.
And then, 55 minutes into a crucial Champions League night at the Bridge, the ball found Estêvão on the edge of the box. The moment he took his first touch, there was only one thing on his mind: “go to goal,” the kind of instruction once reserved for wingers like Eden Hazard. Estêvão drove at his defender, tied him up in knots, and unleashed a thunderous strike into the back of the net.
The night got better as Chelsea number 9, Liam Delap found himself on the scoresheet after coming off the bench.
An absolute dream night for Chelsea at the Bridge, a result that boosts their chances of finishing in the top eight of the group stage. Barcelona, meanwhile, are left with more questions than answers under Flick, having collected just seven points from five games so far.
