Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho

As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters feared a tough match. However those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.