Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Jose Mourinho

As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans feared a difficult match. However those fears vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

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

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

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

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first European points of the season.