Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction | OneFootball

Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Tuesday 21 October 2025 8pm

Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.

‘An absolutely top class Champions League performance.

A well deserved victory with three goals a big plus.

Some standout performances, notably our Captain and Gordon, doing it yet again in a big game.

It’s a joy to be in the Champions League, an even bigger joy to be here and see us play like this against European competition and WIN!!!’

‘The much needed rotation paid off.

I thought both Jacobs were excellent and Miley put in a solid shift too.

Great to see three goals from wingers. The throw from Pope was phenomenal for the second goal and the team moves for goal one and three were hopefully a sign of things to come.

The way Woltemade links play and opens up space, our wingers should be filling their boots this season.

I thought the win against USG was our best performance of the season. This one wasn’t far off.’

GToon:

‘Wow! What a game and what a result.

That was excellent, by far our best performance this season.

We defended well, played some lovely football and scored some great team goals.

I bet Pope was delighted with that assist.

And Gordon. Simply outstanding. And what a game from Bruno. He loves it doesn’t he.

Great to see the supply line back too. He’s managing an Achilles injury but he was brilliant tonight. And BDB and that shot at the end.’

Matt Busby said…:

‘That’s nine defeats in 13 for Jose Mourinho at SJP but the first time he’s been properly schooled.

Enough said. We are in a different class these days and it showed.

Crisis? What crisis? Some fantastic performances out there tonight. Lewis Miley had his best game for us this evening for me, and Bruno and Ramsey weren’t too shabby either.

Maybe Harvey Barnes has solved our right wing conundrum. MOTM for me with his brace. Barnes will tear you apart. Again!’

Tony Mallabar:

‘Well, after spending nine hours on trains on Saturday, it was no surprise that I woke up this morning full of cold.

So it was onto the NUFC resale site and for one night only I became one of Eddie Howe’s firestick mags.

Totally different watching it on the telly instead of v54, my normal east stand seat.

Nip and tuck first half saw us 1-0 at ht and then saw us dominate the second half with super sub doing the business for us.

Maybe Barnes is just destined to be a bit part player for us.

Gordon back to his best but why does he constantly keep hoying himself to the ground. Which came back to haunt us when he was denied a penalty late on in the second half.

Ramsey and Mileycastle looked anonymous for us, proving that muckle Joe’s demise is not just happening quite yet.

So well pleased with that and no queueing for yonks waiting for the number 21 bus home.’

David Punton:

‘A resurgence from United and a much-needed tonic for Eddie Howe as we see off Benfica in fine style to storm up that Champions League table.

It seemed so easy.

The Portuguese giants just couldn’t live with us – pace and power tonight.

All hail the special one: Anthony Gordon.

That’s what we want to see from AG. He’s hit form and is doing great on these European nights.

We pressed well, Bruno was excellent, and both Ramsey and Miley deputised with aplomb for Joelinton and Tonali.

Then we have Nick Pope. Crucial stops and an astonishing long throw to Barnes and it caught Benfica flat footed.

Barnes’ introduction made me nervous but fair play, that was an immense contribution.

Hopefully we now have that momentum back that we lost over the two week break. We should be even better when Wissa returns, too.

A fabulous night for the club and what a brilliant display from Wor Flags.’

Simon Ritter:

‘United were fluent, progressive and creative against difficult opponents who could have scored twice in the first half if not for Nick Pope.

We were also aggressive in a game that included far fewer free kicks than the players on both sides seemed to expect.

Gordon was rightly named man of the match, scoring the first and helping to make the third for supersub Harvey Barnes.

Every player did his bit as United took another big stride towards qualification for the knockout stages.

Nick Woltemade ran himself into the ground, while Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn were often more advanced than the nominal wingers.

Another memorable night under the lights at St James’ Park.’

Mark Jankowski:

‘Another cracking win in the Champions League has Newcastle up to 7th in the table now.

Anthony Gordon was unplayable tonight and deservedly named player of the match.

Some strong performances across the pitch but a special mention to Lewis Miley who turned in an excellent performance, deputising for an under the weather Sandro Tonali.

Newcastle need to turn up the intensity in the Premier League from Saturday but for now we can revel in a fantastic night under the lights.’

Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Tuesday 21 October 2025 8pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Gordon 32, Barnes 70,83

Benfica:

Possession was Newcastle 52% Benfica 48%

Total shots were Newcastle 19 Benfica 7

Shots on target were Newcastle 10 Benfica 2

Corners were Newcastle 12 Benfica 8

Touches in the box Newcastle 38 Benfica 12

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno (Willock 90), Ramsey (Joelinton 63), Miley, Gordon (Elanga 85), Woltemade (Osula 85), Jacob Murphy (Barnes 63)

Unused subs: