Chelsea delivered an unexpected and ruthless Chelsea Champions League win on Tuesday night, leaving Barcelona stunned in a one-sided encounter.
The match, which many expected to be tighter, turned into a commanding display that set a strong mood before Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
Moreover, the intensity shown by the Blues surprised fans who had predicted a balanced contest.
The game, despite lacking real jeopardy due to the new league-stage format, was treated like a high-stakes meeting by Chelsea.
Their approach paid off as they controlled the pace from the first whistle and exposed Barcelona’s fragile structure.
Furthermore, the confidence on display highlighted the team’s progress under Enzo Maresca.
Barcelona gradually lost grip on the match after early errors piled pressure on their defence.
Their collapse began when Ronald Araujo earned two reckless bookings before halftime.
His dismissal, which came while Barcelona were already trailing from a Jules Kounde own goal, shifted full momentum to the hosts.
The team never recovered from that setback.
Chelsea pushed harder in the second half, and 18-year-old Estevao stepped forward with a brilliant performance.
His energy stretched Barcelona’s backline and created constant openings on the right.
His decisive strike, a sharp near-post finish after beating Pau Cubarsi and Alejandro Balde, validated the rising hype around him.
He also outshone Lamine Yamal, who had a difficult evening and was withdrawn to mocking chants.
Although Chelsea had three goals ruled out, their control never faded.
Fernandez had two goals wiped by VAR, and Santos also saw one disallowed moments before Estevao scored.
However, Liam Delap later added a composed third goal after a VAR check confirmed his finish.
The sequence showed Chelsea’s sharp attacking rhythm and their dominance in the final third.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona struggled throughout the match.
Their midfield spacing was weak, their press lacked timing, and their defence remained open.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s players remained composed and used every opening.
Pedro Neto worked well as a false nine, which created fluid movements that troubled Barcelona’s defensive shape.
In addition, key contributions from Garnacho, Cucurella, James, and Santos kept Chelsea in full control.
The win carries huge value as Chelsea prepare for Arsenal.
The six-point gap remains, but this performance gives the Blues vital confidence.
