Chelsea delivered a commanding performance at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, scoring three times and having three additional goals overturned by VAR, as Enzo Maresca’s side swept Barcelona aside with a 3–0 victory in the UEFA Champions League.
The Blues thought they had taken an early lead when Enzo Fernández found the net twice inside the opening 23 minutes, but both goals were ruled out — the first due to a handball by Wesley Fofana in the build-up, and the second after Trevoh Chalobah was deemed offside from a free kick. Chelsea’s pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute when Marc Cucurella beat a razor-thin offside line, and his driven cross deflected off Jules Kounde for an own goal to make it 1–0.
Barcelona’s night went from bad to worse when Ronald Araújo received a second yellow card in the 44th minute, leaving the visitors with ten men just before halftime.
Chelsea continued to dominate after the break. Another goal was chalked off for offside in the 51st minute, but the Blues didn’t have to wait long for their second. In the 55th minute, 18-year-old Brazilian sensation Estevão produced a moment of brilliance — gliding past his marker before unleashing a powerful strike from a tight angle to double the lead.
The hosts sealed the win in the 73rd minute when Liam Delap scored his first European goal, putting the finishing touches on a superb night for Chelsea and a miserable one for the Blaugrana.
