Despite some early setbacks in the 2025-26 season, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/chelsea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelsea</a> have asserted themselves as one of England’s top teams. Coach Enzo Maresca has steered the team back on course with three consecutive victories, cementing its status in the Premier League’s upper echelon. Moreover, Marc Guiu and Estevao shattered a remarkable club record in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/champions-league/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Champions League</a> match against Ajax, highlighting the Blues’ resurgence.



In an electrifying Champions League clash between Chelsea and Ajax, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/marc-guiu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marc Guiu</a> etched his name into the history books by netting the opening goal and becoming the youngest Blues player to score in the competition at 19. Yet, just thirty minutes later, 18-year-old <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/estevao/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Estevao</a> shattered that freshly-minted record, scoring the team’s fourth goal and claiming the title of the youngest Chelsea player to score in the Champions League, reported Fabrizio Romano.



Chelsea have demonstrated that patience and hard work can lay the foundation for a promising project. Initially, the influx of new players left the Blues struggling to find cohesion. However, coach Enzo Maresca successfully assembled a competitive roster, highlighting youth, versatility, and talent, which has enabled them to navigate the current wave of injuries with ease with Estevao leading as the most promising player in the team.



At the start of the season, Marc Guiu found himself without prominence or space on the roster, unlike Estevao. The arrival of Liam Delap, the rise of Joao Pedro and Tyrique George edged the Spaniard out, resulting in a loan to Sunderland. However, Delap’s injury sidelined him for several months, prompting the Blues to recall Guiu. With his immediate impact, he has now earned a place in the team as Joao’s backup.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20251022_WST_598856_Chelsea-1200x675_37884b55.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Chelsea players celebrating a goal" class="wp-image-598878" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Chelsea players celebrating a goal against Ajax in the Champions League.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Chelsea are facing serious defensive issues amid their influx of talent in midfield and attack</h2>



Although Chelsea have built a fairly solid team in midfield and up front, coach Enzo Maresca experiences serious defensive problems at the start of the season. The Blues have tried various options in defense, but no combination has been successful, as they do not have an established starting center back pair, leading to only four games without conceding a goal in the 2025-26 season.


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Not only have their central defenders struggled, but the team also lacks a reliable right back. Reece James, one of their standout players, faces persistent injury issues that hinder his progress. Additionally, Malo Gusto hasn’t delivered the necessary impact on defense or offense, raising concerns within the squad. With much of the season ahead, Enzo Maresca must address these defensive challenges to maintain competitiveness.

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destacadas

Saturday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona sets up to be a title-deciding game with young talent across the pitch. Yes, it is only the tenth game of the season. And, yes, the two clubs will play again later in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> season. Still, this game carries a heightened importance with the infusion of youth involved. Both <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> are sporting young stars for the first time in this storied rivalry.



For Barcelona, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/la-masia-continues-to-pay-dividends-for-cash-strapped-barcelona-20231023-WST-464128.html">new era of La Masia</a> is putting its fingerprints on recent performances. Gavi, Alejandro Balde, and Pedri are not new to this game. However, young sensations Lamine Yamal, Marc Guiu, and Fermin Lopez are likely to play in their first editions of the game. Each of these three players has played a role in delivering key victories for the club. Yamal has been the most impressive with consistent displays down the right side. Marc Guiu scored a game-winner just seconds into his debut against Athletic Club. Finally, Fermin Lopez had the eventual winner in Barcelona’s Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk midweek.



Real Madrid is also sporting a young player. Yet, he is already one of the best players in the world. Jude Bellingham made a high-profile move to Real Madrid over the summer from Borussia Dortmund. With his expectations, the Englishman is shattering every predisposition people and pundits had about him. Playing in an attacking midfield role, Bellingham has 11 goals in 12 games across all competitions. The only two games he did not score in are Real Madrid’s only blemishes this season.




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<h2>Can Barcelona slow down Bellingham?</h2>



Bellingham’s ability exceeds the talents of Barcelona’s youngest players. It helps that he has more years of experience than someone like Lamine Yamal. However, this edition of El Clasico could be a preview of years to come between two impending dynasties in Spain. Players on both sides of this derby had memorable beginnings in El Clasico.



That is the opportunity that lies in front of a player like Bellingham. The golden child for Real Madrid has already earned his praises at the Santiago Bernabeu. Leading Real Madrid to a result in Barcelona would only cement his status as <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fan-favorite-bellingham-makes-committment-to-madrid-future-20231018-WST-462987.html">one of its best signings</a> in recent years.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231027_WST_465202_Jude-celebration-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-465402" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Jude-celebration-1200x675.png 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Jude-celebration-300x169.png 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Jude-celebration-768x432.png 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Jude-celebration.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Jude Bellingham’s goal celebration is becoming a pleasingly regular sighting for Real Madrid supporters.</figcaption></figure>



For Real Madrid, that success is rapidly becoming an expectation for the Englishman. It is one thing to point to his braces against Almeria or Osasuna. Look instead to his success against this season’s better LaLiga teams. He scored and assisted against Girona, the club between Real and Barcelona in the table, away from home. He scored against Athletic Club in his debut, also away from home. Bellingham has shown no slowing down when he does not have the boisterous fans of the Santiago Bernabeu. Even in the Champions League, he has scored sensational goals on the road. <a href="https://youtu.be/Q6ZzLHkWUOc?si=G7EtrxQFFnw7_uU7&amp;t=371">One in particular stands out</a> against Italian champions Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.



Barcelona’s defense has not been the record-setting figure it was last season, and that should excite Bellingham. In 2022/23, Barcelona conceded just 20 goals. That was 16 fewer than Real Madrid’s last campaign. However, in 2023/24, Barcelona has already given up half that total. Its 10 goals against are only tied for fourth best in the league. 



<h2>Young stars at Barcelona get reinforcement before El Clasico</h2>



Regardless, Barcelona and Xavi have done enough to maintain the only unbeaten record in LaLiga. While those 10 games did produce three draws, the Catalan club has no shortage of creativity. New signing Joao Felix has been instrumental since coming over on loan from Atletico Madrid. Ilkay Gundogan has been a reliable and calming source in the midfield following his move from Manchester City.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231027_WST_465202_Lamine-Yamal-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-465398" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Lamine-Yamal-1200x675.png 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Lamine-Yamal-300x169.png 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Lamine-Yamal-768x432.png 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/Lamine-Yamal.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Lamine Yamal is now the youngest goal-scorer in the history of LaLiga at the age of 16.</figcaption></figure>



Still, for these La Masia graduates, this game shines brighter. It will help to have several players with experience in games of this magnitude on standby. Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri returned to training this week after stints on the sideline. They are far from guaranteed to start or even play on Saturday. Still, their candidacy to play is a boost for the club.



Moreover, some of the younger players will see it as an opportunity to prove themselves. Throughout his time managing Barcelona, Xavi has made decisions based on form rather than name. It helped <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-cruise-past-espanyol-to-win-la-liga-title-20230514-WST-432881.html">Barcelona win the league</a> last year, and he hopes it can pay dividends this year, too. Should he start the young players, he entrusts his confidence in unproven talent. A gamble, but one the teenagers and 20-year-olds at Barcelona surely appreciate.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

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