Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Overcome Benfica and Mourinho

As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. However those fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the season.