00:00A classic European night for Newcastle United as they hit Portuguese giants Benfica for three,
00:08keeping another clean sheet along the way and showing the rest of the continent that they are here to compete in the Champions League this season.
00:17Well, Jose Mourinho's poor record on Tyneside continued as Newcastle were clinical here at St James' Park.
00:24The Magpies knew, of course, that they needed a response after the defeat on the south coast against Brighton on Saturday,
00:31and they certainly came out of the traps looking to gain the advantage.
00:35Benfica were also looking sharp though, and Eddie Howe's side had to work hard to go into the break ahead.
00:41That they did, before a second-half display that gave the visitors no hope of getting back into the match.
00:47It was everything the players, staff and supporters of Newcastle wanted after Saturday's events,
00:53and it means that they now sit on six points after three games of their Champions League campaign this year.
01:00Let's go back through the match now from minute one to minute 90 to see how Newcastle won handsomely against their Portuguese opponent, Benfica.
01:11Newcastle were at it from the off. Anthony Gordon, in particular, had success down the left-hand side.
01:17However, Benfica soon managed to gain a foothold in the match.
01:21Their winger, Dodi Lukabacchio, forced Nick Pope into two good saves and also hit the post.
01:28But it was the Magpies who led at the break.
01:31Anthony Gordon tapping home at the back post, with Jacob Murphy having supplied the ball across the box from the right wing,
01:39leaving Gordon an easy task to fire Newcastle ahead.
01:43Newcastle, though, were relentless in the second half.
01:46Substitute Harvey Barnes got their second, thanks to a monster throw from goalkeeper Nick Pope,
01:52who launched the ball around 65 yards straight into Harvey Barnes' path,
01:57before Barnes slotted in off the post to make it two.
02:01And it was Barnes again who got Newcastle's third, finishing off a great team move,
02:06with help from Anthony Gordon and Nick Volta-Marder.
02:09Eddie Howe was pleased with his side's response from their defeat to Brighton.
02:14Yeah, I think it is that kind of game that we have to take forward into our next few games that we've got coming up.
02:22I thought that's the level that we want to be at.
02:25And we've been threatening, I think, sort of putting a performance like that together.
02:29Even Brighton, there was some really, really positive moments, but that gets lost in the result.
02:34But today we got both.
02:35We got another clean sheet.
02:36We scored some goals.
02:37Confidence returned to our attacking players.
02:39So, as I said earlier, it's a good night for us.
02:42Newcastle's wingers have been questioned in recent weeks,
02:44but Haar was very keen to praise them following their output against Benfica.
02:49Yeah, I thought both our wingers that started the game did really, really well.
02:52Great to see them combined for the first goal.
02:54That's a really pleasing sight.
02:56But, yeah, Anthony played very direct.
02:59I thought athletically he was excellent because he put a real big effort in both on and off the ball.
03:04So, yeah, good night for him.
03:06Harvey's always been a goal scorer for us.
03:09I'm pleased to see him score off the right today because he's actually played some good minutes for us on that side of the pitch,
03:13and I think he's played really well.
03:15Hasn't quite got the goals that he has on the left, but today it was two really good finishes.
03:19You know, a reminder of his qualities.
03:22Jose Mourinho was happy with his side's first-half performance,
03:25but conceded that Newcastle were just too much for them in the second 45.
03:30They felt that the game was not easy.
03:34They felt that Benfica was much closer than Newcastle to score.
03:39They brought their enthusiasm in set-pieces, which is normal.
03:43When you have a team of giants, you know that every set-piece, through win, lateral free-kick, corner,
03:49you know that is a dramatic moment for the opponent.
03:52And it was the only moment where they brought that enthusiasm and that pressure to the opponent.
03:56We felt very comfortable in the first half.
03:59In the second half, the second goal kills the game.
04:04And then after that, easy for Newcastle to play, easy for the fans to enjoy.
04:10These are the nights that Newcastle and St James' Park adore, especially when they go the way of the Magpies.
04:16Progressing in Europe is a big priority for Eddie Howe this season,
04:19and Newcastle are now well on their way to achieving that goal.
04:23But they will also be conscious of needing to sort out their inconsistent Premier League form too.
04:29That objective can begin against Fulham, which is next up.
04:33But for now, Titanside will enjoy a big win under the lights in Europe
04:36that they will hope will help to regain their momentum
04:39that was found initially before the international break.
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