Barnes Scores Twice as The Magpies Overcome Benfica and Jose Mourinho

As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a tough match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal 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 Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European result of the season.