NafisaNewcastle United have defeated Benfica 3-0 in the Champions League thanks to goals from Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes.
After losing at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, Newcastle United needed to bounce back against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.
Eddie Howe’s side once again started a Champions League game brightly but fell into a lull as Benfica took the game to them and went close to scoring through the dangerous Dodi Lukebakio.
Yet, it was Newcastle who took the lead when Anthony Gordon tapped in Jacob Murphy’s cross on the half-hour mark.
The goal buoyed Newcastle and they created plenty of chances but failed to double their lead, creating some nervy moments when Benfica did foray up the field.
All the nerves were put to bed with twenty minutes to go, though, with Harvey Barnes getting the all-important second. The winger added the third with a confident finish at the end of a thrilling move.
Here’s how the players rated on a magical European night.
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A bit concerning with his feet under pressure but Nick Pope’s fine form continued as he stepped up with massive saves when needed, denying two brilliant efforts from Lukebakio in the first half alone.
If preventing goals wasn’t enough, he then created the second with an absurdly long throw that went all the way through for Barnes to score.
Kieran Trippier – 6
Not the right-back’s best display. There was some good work, as ever, but there were also wayward passes and lost duels. He lost possession at the other end and stopped as he wanted a foul, which led to Benfica going close to levelling on the counter.
Malick Thiaw – 7
Booked for a very late challenge as Benfica were on top but kept his composure under pressure to put in a solid display.
Sven Botman – 8
Excellent. Sven Botman is approaching his best form again now that he’s managed to play consistently for a while. In this game, he particularly impressed by coming out of the defence to win challenges and cut out attacks before they began.
Dan Burn – 5
A difficult night for Dan Burn, who was clearly targeted and isolated by Benfica and the livewire Lukebakio got a lot of joy down his side. The Benfica winger hit the post and forced Pope into two fine saves, getting away from the big left-back for each of his chances.
It’ll be concerning if better teams continue to target Burn.
However, Burn was a real threat in the other box at set pieces and came close to scoring with a towering header.
Bruno Guimaraes – 8.5
The one midfielder to keep his starting place from Saturday and was back to his best. Bruno Guimaraes was sublime at driving forward from midfield and playing perfectly-weighted slide-through passes for Murphy to run on to, which is exactly how the opener was created.
Everywhere on the pitch and at the heart of Newcastle’s good moves forward.
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