Barnes Fires Two Goals as The Magpies Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But such fears disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.
Match Dynamics and Early Action
Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.
Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.
Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.
Key Events and Turning Points
Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they initially found it hard to generate good chances.
Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.
But when Lukebakio directed another attempt against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.
The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.
On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.
Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to reset at half-time.
The opening period ended with the keeper again saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.
If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.
Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.
Harvey Barnes Seals the Game
Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.
When Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.
