Newcastle 3-0 Benfica
by Roger Domeneghetti
at St James’ Park

ST JAMES’ PARK has not been a happy hunting ground for Jose Mourinho. In his 13 visits with Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs, he had recorded just three wins. A fourth here would have kick-started Benfica’s so-far pointless Champions League campaign. It wasn’t to be.

While Harvey Barnes grabbed a second-half brace, it was Anthony Gordon, scorer of Newcastle’s first goal, who was the star of the show as the Magpies grabbed their second consecutive Champions League win.

With Sandro Tonali and Joelinton on the bench, the former having picked up a bug and the latter looking exhausted at the weekend, it looked like the middle of the park could be the area where the game was settled.

In Richard Rios and Enzo Barrenechea, Benfica had two aggressive, in-yer-face midfielders; it was going to be a test for Lewis Miley and Jacob Ramsey, in for their absent colleagues.

The first half fluctuated as the two teams, both keen to prove that they are better than their results to date and domestic league positions suggest, went toe to toe.

Benfica had their chances. Vangelis Pavlidis hit the side netting. Dodi Lukebakio, a constant thorn in Dan Burn’s side, hit the post and also forced a last-ditch save from Nick Pope.

Eventually, Newcastle’s high press paid dividends. Malick Thiaw winning the ball before Miley and Bruno Guimaraes moved it forward at pace to Jacob Murphy. His cross found just the right path between Benfica’s back-peddling defence and the keeper Anatoliy Trubin who was helpless as Gordon powerfully side-footed the ball into an empty net.

The second half started with Newcastle still very much on top, Murphy forcing an early save from Trubin. Then, a piece of brilliance from Pope created the second. Having caught the ball in routine fashion from a corner, the keeper spotted Barnes breaking into the Benfica half. His 65-yard throw fell into the winger’s path; he outran three defenders before slotting home from the tightest of angles.

Any nerves there were in the home side drained away. When the third came, courtesy of another cute finish from Barnes, it was no surprise that Gordon, following a neat one-two with Nick Woltemade had the assist.

That effectively ended the game as a contest. It was if Benfica gave up. In added time, Sven Botman, Burn, Joe Willock and Joelinton all came close to adding a fourth. It would not have flattered Newcastle.