Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players | OneFootball

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Newcastle 3 Benfica 0.

An important and deserved win for Newcastle, with three well-crafted goals and good performances all over the pitch.

Benfica may not be the European heavyweights they once were, but they came to give us a game, looked sharp, and could have taken the lead in the first half.

Make no mistake – this was a proper Champions League game, and Newcastle deserve credit for handling it so well.

Jose Mourinho knows how to win these games but he will have to admit his team were second-best last night.

At 1-0 up, it never felt like job done for Newcastle, but once the second goal went in, things became comfortable.

Benfica will claim they could have scored a couple of goals with a little luck. That is true, but Newcastle could have had five or six if that luck had evened out.

This was one of Newcastle’s best performances of the season and let’s not forget that our midfield three had never played together before.

Hopefully, confidence will be high among the squad – last season it took 11 points to qualify for the Champions League play-offs, and 16 to go through automatically. The first of those targets should be achievable, in my view, and the second is not out of the question.

For now though, we need all eyes on Saturday – same again against Fulham please lads.

Nick Pope 9

A couple of important saves, and he attacked crosses well, but that’s not what this performance will be remembered for.

A brilliant seventy yard throw set up our second goal and it was good to see him buried under his wildly celebrating team mates when it went in.

It looks like Pope is back on top form.

Kieran Trippier 7

I am very impressed at how fit Tripps is – he must be gassed this morning after all the energy he expended.

He had a good game but his passing and dead-ball skills weren’t at their best. Overall though, a good game.

Malick Thiaw 8

Apart from one wild tackle, which earned him a yellow card, he looked very good – quick to snuff out danger, and composed on the ball.

So far, he’s looking like an astute signing, and at £35m, something of a snip.

Sven Botman 8

Sven was not at his best at Brighton but this was a much improved showing.

He is absolutely fearless – after a couple of serious injuries that’s great to see – but he is also more than comfortable in possession. Another clean sheet to add to his collection.

Dan Burn 7

Done for pace a couple of times, and out of position another time, but gave us his usual wholehearted performance.

I was more impressed with his attacking work – he won a load of headers in the Benfica area and nearly got a fourth goal with a left foot volley from distance.

If and when Tino or Lewis Hall regain full fitness, they’ll probably go straight into the left back position, but for now, BDB is doing OK.

Bruno Guimaraes 9

I thought this was one of Bruno’s better performances and he’s set a high bar since coming to SJP.

Given that he was playing alongside two relatively inexperienced mags, we needed a captain’s performance from him, and that is what we got.

Didn’t get caught out very often – if ever – and didn’t play any silly passes.

He was all over the pitch, but played with discipline, restraint and a good deal of skill. Looked after the ball like it was a winning lottery ticket.

Lewis Miley 8

A very good display from young Lewis.

I can’t understand why some people have a go. He played with the assurance of someone who has spent 10 years in the Champions League and barely put a foot wrong.

It looked like he was given defensive midfielder duties and acquitted himself well.

He was usually in the right place at the right time and used the ball intelligently. A smooth performance from a talented footballer.

Jacob Ramsey 6

Looked a bit rusty, unsurprisingly, but let no one down.

Fully fit and fully integrated into the team, he would have scored from a sumptuous Murphy cross, but he will be pleased to have put in a decent 65 minutes. He’ll only get better from here.

Jacob Murphy 8

Back in the side by public demand and justified his selection.

He gets the ball into the box more than just about anyone in the squad and one of his passes was put on a plate for Gordon to make it 1-0.

He played the same ball for Ramsey a few minutes earlier but a defender got a toe on it.

Murph also came close to scoring a couple of times, and as ever, worked his bits off.

Nick Woltemade 7

I’m not sure whether it came from Eddie and Jason, or whether he’s always played that way, but Nick doesn’t lead the line like Isak did. He looks more like a number 10 to me, receiving the ball more-or-less in midfield. But he does have unquestionable talent.

In truth, not a lot came off for him last night but he did play a lovely ball round the corner to allow Gordon to set up Newcastle’s third goal.

Anthony Gordon 10

His best Newcastle performance for a long time.

Took a little while to get going, but once he scored our first goal, there was no stopping him.

Gave Benfica’s right back(s) a thorough workout, and got in behind them countless times. Was a constant threat, could have had a penalty and played the perfect through ball to Barnes for our third.

There have been times in the recent past when Gordon has looked low on energy and desire. He had both in abundance last night.

SUBS

Joelinton 6

Kept up the good work in midfield and was aggressive without getting carried away.

Not a bad option to have on the bench!

Harvey Barnes 9

If Murphy looked good on the right, Barnes was a revelation.

I guess Benfica may have been feeling weary by the time he entered the fray but he settled any nerves inside SJP with two extremely well-taken goals.

The first one will be remembered for the Nick Pope assist but it was a chance that many would not have taken. He was running at speed, with four Benfica players in hot pursuit and a goalkeeper who had covered his angles well. Barnes had to stay calm and pick the perfect spot, and that he did.

As good a cameo from a substitute that I can recall.

William Osula N/A

Not on long enough to judge.

Anthony Elanga N/A

Not on long enough to judge.

Joe Willock N/A

Not on long enough to judge.

Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Tuesday 21 October 2025 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

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:

Thompson, Ramsdale, Schar, Tonali, Krafth, Alex Murphy