Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult match. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.
Game Flow and Initial Exchanges
Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.
Compounding Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock each.
Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.
Critical Events and Decisive Actions
The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to generate good chances.
Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.
But when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.
Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.
When the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over ÂŁ55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Match-Winning Changes
From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.
The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.
While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.
Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.
Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.
Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Wins the Match
Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.
After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.
