Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Overcome Benfica and Mourinho
As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans were concerned about a tough match. But those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.
Match Flow and Initial Exchanges
The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.
Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury each.
Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.
Key Moments and Decisive Actions
The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they at first struggled to create good chances.
Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand save. 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 post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.
The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.
When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.
Later Stages and Decisive Changes
From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.
The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.
While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.
The manager's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.
Barnes Seals the Match
Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.
Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.
When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.
