Predicted Newcastle team v Benfica – Two changes | OneFootball

Looking at this Newcastle team v Benfica.

Only hours to go now before this next Champions League match at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United looking to make it six points from a possible nine so far in the Swiss League format.

This Benfica match follows the narrow 2-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona at SJP, followed by the dominant 4-0 victory in Brussels against Union S-G.

So can Eddie Howe’s side follow up with another big Champions League victory?

If so, it would put United in a great position two weeks ahead of another Champions League home game, against Athletic Bilbao.

As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Brighton on Saturday:

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon, Woltemade, Elanga

Eddie Howe gave an update on Monday afternoon, regarding injury and availability for this Benfica match.

Yoane Wissa, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento all still working their way back from injury.

Whilst Eddie Howe revealed that Sandro Tonali was recovering from a virus and hadn’t trained on Monday. A wait and see according to the NUFC Head Coach, as to what the Italy international’s availability will be tonight.

So where does that leave us?

The same eleven have started these last three games against Union S-G, Forest and Brighton, will it be unchanged again…?

This is my predicted Newcastle team v Benfica:

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Miley, Joelinton, Gordon, Woltemade, Murphy

If this predicted starting eleven proves correct, it would mean two changes from the team that started at Brighton.

Miley and Murphy coming in for Tonali and Elanga.

I can see Fabian Schar getting a start in the near future with Eddie Howe giving Malick Thiaw a shift off. However, I would be surprised if the United boss made any changes in defence tonight.

Both games came through the middle of the pitch against Brighton but probably that was as much about the midfield not giving the usual levels of protection to the defence, as it was about the central defenders at fault.

Thiaw and Botman have done well together this season and for me will start again, in front of Nick Pope who has been excellent. Whilst with our two young England full-backs still out, I can’t see past Trippier and Burn.

I thought Bruno Guimaraes was easily Newcastle’s best midfielder on Saturday, with Tonali and Joelinton not at their best.

That was Tonali’s 14th start out of a possible 15 for club and country so far this season and maybe that and this virus, combined to stop him reaching his usual heights. Eddie Howe says he desperately hopes he will be able to start against Benfica but my feeling is he may come off the bench if needed in the second half.

Joelinton didn’t have a great first half at all on Saturday. Struggled to impose himself against a very good Brighton midfield and possibly the international travel for friendlies in South Korea and Japan did him no favours. He was shown training on Monday and having only played 45 minutes on Saturday, I think Joelinton will bounce back.

Lewis Miley was the one who came on for Joelinton, whilst Jacob Ramsey replaced Tonali with 20 minutes to go at the weekend. Eddie Howe said after the game, when explaining why he kept the same midfield, that he felt Ramsey wasn’t yet totally match fit after his long absence and that Miley had missed a couple of weeks training with a minor injury.

I thought Miley did well on Saturday off the bench and of course got an assist for Woltemade’s goal, I think he will get the nod if Tonali doesn’t start against Benfica.

Unless any physical/injury/fitness reasons stop them, I think Woltemade and Gordon start again tonight. On the right it is more unclear. Elanga’s two best NUFC matches have for sure been the two in the Champions League, however, he was very poor on Saturday. In contrast, Murphy came on and was a key factor in a far better second half display for Newcastle. Maybe as an impact sub off the bench against a tiring Benfica, we will see Elanga’s pace come to the fore and help ensure the win.

Confirmed Newcastle United fixtures to 20 December 2025 (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 29 October – Newcastle v Spurs (8pm) ITV and Sky Sports

Sunday 2 November – West Ham v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 5 November: Newcastle United vs Athletic Club Bilbao (8pm)

Sunday 9 November – Brentford v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 22 November – Newcastle v Man City (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Tuesday 25 November: Olympique Marseille vs Newcastle United (8pm)

Saturday 29 November – Everton v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Tuesday 2 December – Newcastle v Spurs (8.15pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 6 December – Newcastle v Burnley (3pm)

Wednesday 10 December – Bayer Leverkusen v Newcastle United (8pm)

Sunday 14 December – Sunderland v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports