Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters feared a difficult game. But those fears vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.
Match Dynamics and Early Action
The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.
Adding to the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.
Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.
Critical Events and Turning Points
The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.
Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.
But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.
The England winger's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.
When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.
Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.
The opening period ended with Pope once more saving his side by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.
If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.
The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time he moved forward.
The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.
Barnes Seals the Match
Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb strike past the keeper.
After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the campaign.