Barnes Scores Two Goals as The Magpies Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho

When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult game. However such worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team 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 next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.