Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult match. However such fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.
Game Dynamics and Initial Action
The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.
Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.
Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.
Critical Events and Decisive Actions
Benfica's tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first struggled to create good chances.
Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.
Yet when the winger directed another attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the deadlock.
The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.
When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.
Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions
Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.
The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.
If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.
The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time he advanced.
Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.
Barnes Wins the Game
Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.
After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.
