Impressive Chelsea thumps 10-man Barcelona
Chelsea rolled back the years with an imperious UEFA Champions League performance to sweep aside a toothless Barcelona 3-0 and take a hefty step towards securing automatic qualification while leaving the Spaniish side fighting to avoid a play-off.
After an early own goal and a red card for Barcelona’s captain Ronald Araujo at the end of the first half, teenager Estevao smashed in a fabulous second and Liam Delap got the third, and the London side also had three goals ruled out.
It was like the old days at Stamford Bridge, when taking on and beating the cream of Europe was the norm, as Chelsea made all the running, passing crisply and constantly probing down both flanks.
Not for Barcelona, though, which was the palest shadow of the sides who used to keep possession with such ease before relentlessly carving out opportunities. It barely held the ball for three passes, let alone built any sustained pressure.
Barca's defence also looked ragged and it was saved only by the officials as Enzo Fernandez had a goal ruled out for handball after five minutes and another for offside.
Barcelona’s sole chance of the night fell to Ferran Torres after six minutes, but he blazed wide with the goal gaping.
Chelsea’s pressure eventually paid off after 27 minutes when Marc Cucurella crossed low from the right and, as two defenders tried to block Pedro Neto’s effort, Jules Kounde instead poked the ball into his own net.
Things got even better for Chelsea when Araujo was sent off for a second yellow after a clumsy trip on Cucurella a minute before the break.
Chelsea, unrecognisable from the team that laboured to a 2-2 draw at Qarabag in its previous UEFA Champions League outing, continued to control the game and suffered a third disallowed goal by substitute Andrey Santos – ruled out for offside in the build-up five minutes after the restart.
Again, though, it was a brief respite for Barcelona as Estevao took centre stage, driving past two tackles before unleashing an absolute piledriver from a tight angle into the roof of the net.
As one 18-year-old starlet took the adulation of the crowd, Barcelona’s version, Lamine Yamal, cut a forlorn figure, unable to make any impact before being hauled off 12 minutes from time.
Delap then got in on the action, tucking home a Fernandez cross after 73 minutes for his first goal of the season, as everything came up roses for Chelsea.
The victory hoists the Blues provisionally into the top eight automatic qualifying slots, and well-placed with games against Pafos, Atalanta and Napoli to come.
Barcelona, which started the day level with Chelsea, now faces a fight to avoid the play-offs and will need to gain plenty of points from its remaining fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague and FC Copenhagen.
"Since I started playing professional football, I think this is the best moment for me. I am so happy," 18-year-old Estevao said after the match.
"Since I arrived here I've been treated with such kindness – I love to create happiness for the fans.
"It all happened very quickly," he said of his goal.
"I just found some space, wiggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career. I hope to score many more."
