Chelsea's teenage sensation Estêvão Willian experienced what he described as the "perfect night" after his breathtaking performance powered the Blues to a resounding 3-0 victory over European giants Barcelona in the Champions League.
A Night of Personal Triumph
The 18-year-old Brazilian winger, who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras for £52 million last summer, produced a moment of individual brilliance that lit up Stamford Bridge. Early in the second half, Estêvão put his side 2-0 up with a spectacular solo goal that left both fans and players in awe.
"I don't really have any words," an emotional Estêvão confessed after the match. "It was the perfect night. It was all very quick. It was such a special goal in my career for me and I hope to score many more."
The young star made special mention of his family being present to witness his breakthrough performance and expressed his deep connection with the Chelsea supporters. "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. I'm so happy I can score for them and make them happy."
Historic Achievement for Young Talent
With his goal against Barcelona, Estêvão entered the Champions League history books by becoming only the third teenager ever to score in each of his first three starts in the competition. This remarkable feat places him in elite company alongside global superstars Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
Despite the inevitable comparisons with footballing legends that such achievements provoke, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was quick to temper expectations. "Estêvão needs to relax, enjoy his football," Maresca advised. "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 for Resurgent Chelsea
The comprehensive victory saw Chelsea dominate their Spanish opponents from start to finish. The scoring opened with an own goal from Barcelona's Jules Koundé, before Estêvão's magnificent second. The victory was sealed by Liam Delap, who rounded off the scoring to complete Barcelona's misery.
The visitors' night deteriorated further when defender Ronald Araújo received a second yellow card just before half-time, reducing Barcelona to ten men for the entire second half.
The result continues Chelsea's impressive form, making them unbeaten in six matches across all competitions. The Blues now sit fifth in the standings as they prepare for a crucial Premier League encounter against London rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Maresca revealed his plans to manage his squad's energy levels ahead of the important fixture. "I told the players to switch off in the next 48 hours, have a rest, and then on Sunday we have Arsenal," the Italian manager explained. "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."
