Harvey Barnes came off the bench to score twice as Newcastle United cruised to a 3-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica at St. James’ Park, deepening the Portuguese side’s Champions League struggles.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring, setting the tone for the Magpies, while Benfica remain without a single point in Europe’s top competition this season.
Introduced just after the hour mark, Barnes made an instant impact with two composed right-footed finishes, sealing a dominant win that puts Eddie Howe’s men firmly on course for qualification from the league phase.
Having bounced back from their opening defeat to Barcelona, Newcastle now boast back-to-back victories, including a 4-0 thrashing of Union Saint-Gilloise, and have climbed above Real Madrid and Barcelona to seventh in the Champions League standings.
Mourinho, who once described himself as a “little Magpie” in honour of his mentor and former Newcastle boss Bobby Robson, endured another painful night in Europe. Robson, immortalised by a statue at St. James’ Park, had given Mourinho his first coaching opportunity as a translator at Sporting Lisbon, Porto, and Barcelona.
The Portuguese coach declined Robson’s invitation to join him at Newcastle in 1999, instead beginning his managerial journey at Benfica the following year the same club now struggling under his leadership, with three losses from three group games.
Benfica created early chances through Dodi Lukebakio, who forced Nick Pope into a brilliant save before striking the post with a curling effort. But Newcastle took the lead on 32 minutes when Bruno Guimaraes released Jacob Murphy down the right, and his cross was calmly finished by Gordon for his third Champions League goal of the season.
Lewis Miley missed a free header that could have doubled the lead before Pope’s quick throw set up Barnes for Newcastle’s second, the forward racing through and firing low into the corner.
Gordon later turned provider, teeing up Barnes for another clinical finish seven minutes from time to cap a resounding performance.
While Newcastle have struggled for goals in the Premier League, scoring just seven in eight games, their European form tells a different story. With fixtures ahead against Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, and PSV before a final trip to champions Paris Saint-Germain, the Magpies look poised for a strong finish.
What you should know
Harvey Barnes’ double marked a stunning return to form for Newcastle, whose European confidence continues to grow.
The victory leaves Mourinho’s Benfica rooted at the bottom, still chasing their first Champions League point of the season.
