Madrid, Nov 26 - Three duels had a happy ending for Chelsea: their success with a 3-0 rout over Barcelona, the brilliance of the Brazilian Estevao, and the overshadowed figure of Lamine Yamal.
As there is no room for forgiveness in football, today the experts relish Barça's bad night at London's Stamford Bridge, where a real shipwreck was experienced against Chelsea, far from the Thames, in the Champions League.
A critical look at a Blaugrana squad unable to withstand the intensity of the Blues in every area.
Although it is true that an own goal by Koundé at 27 minutes, from a low cross by Marc Cucurella, secured the score, the English had already warned earlier with two goals disallowed.
Cucurella was one of the anonymous stars of the match. He decisively neutralized Yamal, and the 18-year-old Catalan prodigy barely managed a shot on goal, weak and central.
There was another unwritten duel in the script that went wonderfully. Also 18 years old, the talented Brazilian forward Estevao responded brilliantly, breaking free from two opponents and scoring with a thunderous right-footed shot at 55 minutes.
More skillful with his left foot, Estevao put on a recital in the match and confirmed that Brazil has found its new gem ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Yamal, however, has yet to show his best qualities after an injury.
From the match, without a doubt, the sending off of Uruguayan center-back Ronald Araujo, for a double yellow card at 44 minutes, conditioned the game.
The third goal for the English came from a simple finish by Liam Delap at 73 minutes.
Villarreal also did not fare well, suffering a 0-4 thrashing by Dortmund. Two goals by Guirassy and two more from Adeyemi and Svenson devastated the Yellow Submarine on German soil.
With fewer and fewer chances to advance in the competition, Villarreal was joined by Athletic Bilbao, who had to settle for a goalless draw against Slavia Prague.
Two cartridges remain for Spain on this Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League: the giants from Madrid. The Merengues play mostly for credibility after three consecutive stumbles.
Xabi Alonso's team, heavily questioned by the media, faces Greece's Olympiacos, carrying two draws in the Spanish tournament against Rayo Vallecano and Elche, and one Champions defeat against Liverpool.
After an uncertain start, Atlético de Madrid seeks to recover and remains fourth in the Spanish table. They have unfinished business in Europe and face a tough opponent, Inter Milan, with the advantage of playing at their home, the Metropolitano stadium.
The day also focuses on two very attractive matches: Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich and PSG vs. Tottenham.
