Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Overcome Portuguese Side and Mourinho

When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a tough game. But those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass 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 parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal 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.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.