When José Mourinho arrived on Tyneside and immediately showered Eddie Howe and his players with lavish praise, Newcastle fans feared the worst. Although such worries ultimately evaporated, it took a fine goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from the substitute Harvey Barnes to reassure St James’ Park that Benfica’s new(ish) manager would not be inflicting any pain on Howe’s team.
If Mourinho’s side, and their Belgium winger Dodi Lukébako especially, should remain unbowed by their contribution to an initially intriguing, highly compelling Champions League duel, Benfica’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages appear almost in tatters.
Mourinho had predicted that Howe’s team would be “very, very physical” but his Benfica players possessed a bit of an aggressive edge themselves. The visitors certainly delighted in attempting to disrupt Newcastle’s early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.
It did not help the home cause that two of Howe’s key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued their convalescence from illness and injury respectively.
The two managers had exchanged a slightly perfunctory, rather cool, embrace before kick-off and it quickly became clear Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the St James’ Park crowd by slowing Newcastle down and lowering the temperature at every opportunity.
