Barnes Scores Twice as The Magpies Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a difficult game. But such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.
Match Flow and Initial Action
Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.
Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.
Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.
Critical Moments and Turning Points
Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to generate clear opportunities.
Additionally, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.
But when the winger directed another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.
The England winger's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.
When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.
Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions
From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.
The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.
If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.
Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.
The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.
Barnes Seals the Game
Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.
The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a superb shot past the keeper.
After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.