Harvey Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho

As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.