Newcastle v Benfica live: Barnes scores two sublime Magpies goals in big Champions League win | OneFootball

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Howe wants Newcastle to change focus after Benfica win

Harvey Barnes bagged a brace and Anthony Gordon scored for the third consecutive Champions League match in a row on Tuesday as Newcastle United earned a potentially pivotal three points against Benfica.

Both sides threatened in an open first half at St James’ Park, with Dodi Lukebako hitting the bar for the visitors, but it was Newcastle who went ahead around the half-hour mark when Jacob Murphy squared an inch-perfect cross for Gordon to tap in the opener.

Benfica came out fighting in the second period and possessed plenty of threat early on, though Eddie Howe responded with inspired substitutions as he brought on eventual match winner Barnes.

The English winger latched onto a superb long throw from Nick Pope before firing in a lovely low finish to make it 2-0, before he was given a golden chance to wrap up the game late on – after lovely play from Gordon and Nick Woltemade – and obliged with another lovely finish to secure the three points.

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‘Problem’ Anthony Gordon has become the answer Newcastle (and England) are looking for

The cast of leading goalscorers in the Champions League is stacked with the usual names even at this early stage. But behind Kylian Mbappe (five), Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have all been joined on four goals by an unlikely marksman, England and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

As Thomas Tuchel nails down his England starters for the World Cup there is positivity from the left wing of St James’ Park.

Gordon is bolstering his solid, goalscoring England form withproductivity and headline grabbing among Europe’s elite. Club boss Eddie Howe will now rightly demand Gordon transfers his big game shows into routine league games.

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Chris Wilson21 October 2025 23:07

Barnes & Gordon react

"Last season we weren't in Europe and that hurt the players - this is what we want to be in, there is nothing better,” says goalscorer Harvey Barnes.

"A few times when we have gone ahead in games we have not quite gone for that second or third goal and it has cost us. This is when we are at our best - playing attacking football with the crowd behind us. The third goal killed the game off which was important,” he added.

Anthony gordon also spoke to TNT, saying that “it means everything [to be the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League games], but we need more, my ambition doesn't stop there”.

"Because we had so many chances, we had to put one away to calm the nerves. I was glad to see it go in. Playing with [Jacob] Murphy, I knew he was going to play that ball every time. That goal is all about him.

"We all love [Nick] Pope. He is one of the most popular people in the dressing room he is a top guy and a top keeper. He has kept us in so many game already this season and some of the saves he made were incredible,” added the England winger.