The two 18-year-olds were the focus of attention in the build-up to the game at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca urging his player to ignore the comparisons.
Estevao’s moment of magic came 10 minutes after half-time when he received the ball on the right before beating two defenders and lashing it into the roof of Joan Garcia’s net.
It was the 10th goal of the season for club and country for the winger, just months into his first campaign at Chelsea.
The Brazilian said it was the best moment of his career so far, in front of his watching family.
“I don’t really have any words to sum up how I’m feeling right now,” he said. “It really was the perfect night. I’m just grateful to God for everything that has happened for me. Onwards and upwards from here.”
Speaking about his spectacular goal, he said: “It all happened very quickly for me, it sort of happened before I knew it.
“I just found some space, wiggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career. I hope to score many more.”
Estevao’s goal gave Barcelona, already trailing 1-0 and down to 10 men, a mountain to climb and substitute Liam Delap put the game to bed in the 73rd minute, sidefooting home from close range.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s selection gamble backfired as under-strength Manchester City suffered a shock 2-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen.
Guardiola surprisingly rested the majority of his stars at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Gianluigi Donnarumma all left out of the starting line-up.
Leverkusen took advantage of a dismal display from Guardiola’s understudies as Alex Grimaldo put the Germans ahead in the first half before Patrik Schick netted after the break to spark grumbles of discontent from City fans at the final whistle.
For the first time in 24 games dating back 2018, City were beaten at home in the Champions League prior to the knockout stage.
It was a second consecutive loss for City after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in the Premier League.
City have already lost four times in the Premier League this term to leave them seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
While their first Champions League defeat in five matches shouldn’t be fatal to their bid to reach the last 16, Guardiola will have absorbed the lesson that his reserves aren’t quite as formidable as he would hope.
Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match as City boss was a damp squib, in stark contrast to so many of the previous 99, which includes 62 wins and the club’s maiden European crown in 2023. (AFP)
