🔗 Share this article

When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans feared a difficult game. But those worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

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

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.