Chelsea's teenage sensation Estêvão Willian delivered a career-defining performance at Stamford Bridge, powering his side to a commanding 3-0 victory against European giants Barcelona in the Champions League.
The 18-year-old Brazilian winger, who joined from Palmeiras for £52 million last summer, produced a moment of magic with a spectacular solo goal that left fans and pundits alike in awe.
A Perfect Night at the Bridge
Estêvão struggled to contain his emotions after what he described as a "perfect night" in west London. The young star not only scored but convincingly won his individual battle with Barcelona's own teenage prodigy, Lamine Yamal, stealing the spotlight when he put Chelsea 2-0 up early in the second half.
"I don't really have any words," the elated winger admitted. "It was all very quick. It was such a special goal in my career for me and I hope to score many more. It was the most special moment of my career. I'm so happy my family were here. From the moment I arrived I felt such a connection for the fans."
Joining Elite Company
With his performance, Estêvão entered the Champions League history books, becoming only the third teenager ever to score in each of his first three starts in the competition. This remarkable achievement places him alongside modern greats Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
However, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca immediately moved to temper expectations and protect his young star from excessive pressure. "Estêvão needs to relax, enjoy his football," Maresca cautioned. "Him and Lamine, if you start to talk about Messi and Ronaldo, it's too much pressure for young boys like them. It's too much for them."
Comprehensive Victory Builds Momentum
The comprehensive victory was built on multiple fronts:
- Chelsea took an early lead through a Jules Koundé own goal
- Estêvão's brilliant solo effort made it 2-0
- Liam Delap rounded off the scoring later in the match
- Barcelona's night worsened when Ronald Araújo received a second yellow card just before half-time
The result extends Chelsea's unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions, providing perfect momentum ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against London rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Maresca revealed his management approach for the coming days, telling players: "I told the players to switch off in the next 48 hours, have a rest, and then on Sunday we have Arsenal. From Friday, we start to think about Arsenal. We need to keep the momentum. It's much easier to recover energy when you win games."
The victory lifts Chelsea to fifth in their Champions League group standings, marking significant progress in their European campaign and showcasing the emerging talent that could define the club's future.
