Chelsea's resurgence continues apace after stunning 10-man Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday (AEDT).
Barcelona entered the competition as one of the favourites but a nightmare turn of events in the first half scuppered their hopes in London.
First, Jules Kounde turned the ball into the back of his own net in the 27th minute to give Chelsea the lead.
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And then fellow Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo was given his marching orders for a second yellow card just before half-time.
A youthful Chelsea side needed no further encouragement to stamp their authority on the match, playing some thrilling football at times.
Brazilian 18-year-old Estevao showcased his dazzling technical skills to double Chelsea's lead in the 55th minute – his third Champions League goal in as many games.
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Estevao drove past two tackles before unleashing an absolute piledriver from a tight angle into the roof of the net.
"It all happened very quickly," he said.
"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.
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"Since I started playing professional football, I think this is the best moment for me. I am so happy.
"Since I arrived here I've been treated with such kindness – I love to create happiness for the fans."
As one 18-year-old starlet took the adulation of the crowd, Barcelona's version, Lamine Yamal, cut a forlorn figure, unable to make any impact before being hauled off 12 minutes from time.
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Striker Liam Delap completed the rout against the demoralised Spaniards in the 73rd minute.
Delap's goal was initially waved off for offside but a lengthy VAR inspection awarded it for 3-0.
Chelsea are sitting second in the Premier League under Italian manager Enzo Maresca.
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The news was not so good for Chelsea's England rivals in the Champions League.
Manchester City were upset 2-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen, adding to Pep Guardiola's problems following a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Newcastle lost 2-1 away to Marseille thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's quickfire double.
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Harvey Barnes had opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
In the early games, Galatasaray's three-match winning streak in the Champions League came to an end in a 1-0 defeat in Istanbul to Union Saint-Gilloise.
Promise David netted the winning goal for the Belgian side.
The loss was the Turkish side's first home defeat since August last year, while Union bounced back from three successive Champions League losses.
David's goal came in the 57th minute when Raul Florucz's clever reverse pass found the run of Adem Zorgane and his pullback from the byline was side-footed into the net from the edge of the six-yard area.
In Amsterdam, an early goal from fullback Samuel Dahl and a second on the stroke of fulltime from Leandro Barreiro handed Benfica a first win in this season's Champions League as they beat Ajax 2-0.
Both clubs were propping up the 36-team table, having each lost their opening four matches of the campaign, but Benfica climbed up while crisis-ridden Ajax remain rooted to the bottom.
Dahl thrashed home a powerful shot from the edge of the area in the sixth minute after home goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros had parried away a header from striker Richard Rios.
Barreiro set up the second goal with a fine takedown on the halfway line from a defensive clearance before playing a one-two with Fredrik Aursnes and then outstripping the Ajax defence to hammer home a powerful shot in the 90th minute.
Ajax's best chances fell to captain Davy Klaassen, whose first opportunity in the 33rd minute was well saved and who then miscued his shot with only the goalkeeper to beat early in the second half.
MORE TO COME…
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