🔗 Share this article Barnes Fires Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Jose Mourinho When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough match. But those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team. Game Dynamics and Early Action Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking tempo. Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and injury respectively. Before the start, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance. Key Events and Decisive Actions Benfica's tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good chances. Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament. Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie. The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the box proved effective. When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish. Later Stages and Decisive Changes From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break. The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced. If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas. Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward. The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy. The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired. Harvey Barnes Seals the Match Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger. Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin. After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.