Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Jose Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home fans feared a difficult game. However those worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.
Game Flow and Initial Action
The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.
Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.
Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.
Key Moments and Turning Points
The visitors' tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to create good chances.
Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.
But when Lukebakio hit another shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.
The England winger's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the box paid off.
When the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Decisive Substitutions
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.
The first half concluded with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.
If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.
Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.
Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Wins the Match
Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.
The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.
After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.
