Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho

As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. However those fears vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.