Barnes Fires Twice as The Magpies Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.
Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges
The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to build a fluent passing tempo.
Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.
Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.
Key Events and Turning Points
Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.
Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.
But when the winger hit a further shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.
The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.
On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Decisive Changes
Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.
The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.
If Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.
Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.
Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.
Barnes Wins the Match
Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable poise to fire a superb shot past the keeper.
When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.
