Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as The Magpies Defeat Benfica and Jose Mourinho
As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult match. But such worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.
Match Dynamics and Initial Action
Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a smooth passing tempo.
Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.
Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.
Key Moments and Decisive Actions
Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.
Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.
Yet when the winger hit a further attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.
Gordon's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the box proved effective.
When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Decisive Changes
From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.
The opening period concluded with the keeper once more saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.
While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.
Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Seals the Match
Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.
The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.
After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.