Harvey Barnes Fires Two Goals as The Magpies Overcome Portuguese Side and Jose Mourinho

As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters feared a difficult game. But such fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive style. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and a knock each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.