Harvey Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters feared a tough match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the backline, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey 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 sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.