Harvey Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Overcome Benfica and Mourinho

When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before the start, the coaches shared a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed a further shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.