It definitely wasn't a magical Champions League night for Lamine Yamal - that much is certain. Chelsea, and especially Marc Cucurella, managed to completely neutralize the player many believe is destined to be the future of football, while also helping secure a resounding 3-0 victory over FC Barcelona.
The Spanish full-back was named Player of the Match - and it was thoroughly deserved. Afterward, his teammate Robert Sánchez dropped a brutal one-liner aimed squarely at the young Barça star.
The Chelsea goalkeeper kept a clean sheet and, when speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, was asked about the individual battle between Cucurella and Yamal. His response was short and devastating: "Cucurella has him in his pocket."
He then fired a second shot that could haunt plenty of careers, commenting on the level of the Premier League: "Everyone looks really good until they come to the Premier League."
It's worth remembering that this was Lamine Yamal's very first match against an English club - and it didn't go well at all.
Finally, when asked whether Barcelona should still be considered favorites in the Champions League, Sánchez replied with a wide grin: "Favorites? Barcelona? No - we're the favorites."
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the competition (pending the rest of the matchday), while FC Barcelona are down in 15th place, looking very poorly positioned in this year's Champions League.