Our Newcastle United fan contributor Matty Renton reflects on the side's impressive 3-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday and assesses the impact of the wingers.
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Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesAnthony Gordon is relishing his second crack at the Champions League.
After failing to register a goal or assist in Newcastle's six group stage games in the 2023-24 season, the England winger has scored four goals and set up one so far in Europe this time round.
In scoring against Benfica on Tuesday he became the first Magpies player to score in three consecutive Champions League matches.
Against Jose Mourinho's side, Gordon put in an all-action performance - as illustrated by his touch map.
The 24-year-old topped the match statistics for expected goals and touches in the opposition box, while he also completed the joint-most shots and entries into the final third.
Despite not scoring yet in the Premier League this campaign, Gordon's four European goals puts him already almost halfway to his total tally of nine in all competitions for Newcastle last season.
With him also starting three and featuring in all four of England's World Cup qualifiers September - scoring against Latvia most recently - he is also impressing Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
In the Champions League, only Kylian Mbappe has scored more than Gordon so far this season and the former Everton man has also completed the most dribbles [24] - followed by Jeremy Doku [23] and Lamine Yamal [19].
The picture the stats paints is that it is only a matter of time before Gordon rediscovers his scoring touch in the Premier League.
He is averaging 3.46 shots per 90 minutes compared to 2.11 last season, while his non penalty expected goals per 90 has risen from 0.24 to 0.34.
From a creative standpoint, Gordon's successful take-ons per 90 has risen from 1.41 to 2.64 and successful take-ons per 90 that lead to a shot on goal has risen from 0.26 to 0.79.
Only the bottom three have scored fewer goals in the Premier League this season than Newcastle, who have seven.
However, with Nick Woltemade quickly imposing himself as Alexander Isak's successor, Jacob Murphy rediscovering his assisting touch, Anthony Elanga finding his feet, and Gordon's form, surely the goals will flow soon.
*Stats provided by Opta and Uefa
Image source, Getty ImagesAnthony Gordon says Jose Mourinho's praise after Newcastle's 3-0 win over Benfica meant a great deal because the Portuguese was his "favourite manager in the world" when he was growing up.
The Newcastle forward was three years old when Mourinho took charge of Chelsea in 2004, but the now-Benfica manager had kind words for him after Gordon scored in the Champions League against them on Tuesday night.
"He said: 'You're too much', which is a big compliment for me because as a kid, he was my favourite manager in the world," Gordon explained, when asked what Mourinho said to him at the end of the match.
"It's quite weird because he was quite a defensive manager, but I just love the way, even then, the bench was getting up [to celebrate].
"He really creates a team environment - it's like us against the world. I recognise that from my own game, so it was a big compliment.
"It means an awful lot. Even if I hadn't idolised him, a compliment from any coach at this level means a lot."
The 24-year-old made it four goals in three games in the Champions League so far and went on to explain how he was playing alongside summer signing Nick Woltemade.
"He suits my game so well," Gordon said. "He sees the little passes I do round the corner - that's my style of play as a winger.
"Not a lot of attackers can really play off that style, but some of his first touches, some of his little flicks - especially for the third goal - are top, top level."
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesSandro Tonali has not looked back.
It was just 14 months ago that the midfielder returned to action for Newcastle after serving his suspension.
And he has become indispensable.
Eddie Howe's subsequent decision to shift Tonali to the number six role unlocked something in both the Italian and, indeed, this side as they went on to end a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy and qualify for the Champions League last season.
Though Newcastle have endured a mixed start to the Premier League – they currently lie in 14th place – Tonali has merely picked up from where he left off.
Tonali's athleticism is such that, according to football stats database Fbref, he has carried the ball further – 1,722 yards – than any other Newcastle player this season.
The intelligent Italian rarely loses the ball and only Kieran Trippier has completed more passes, had more touches and hit more progressive passes for Newcastle than the influential midfielder.
Yet Tonali also does the gritty side of the game well, too.
Only centre-back Sven Botman has made more blocks than Tonali (13) for Newcastle, while defenders Malick Thiaw and Dan Burn are the only players to make more interceptions than his 12.
Though others, perhaps, grab the headlines more often, no-one at Newcastle needs reminding about Tonali's importance.
As well as strengthening the side moving forward, Newcastle need to keep hold of their best players, particularly after losing Alexander Isak in the summer, which could lead to discussions over fresh terms.
The Isak saga proved contracts do not carry the weight they once did after the centre-forward went on strike to force through a £125m move to Liverpool despite having three years left on his deal.
But Tonali has long shown his commitment with his actions and his words.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Newcastle United beating Benfica 3-0 on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Here are some of your comments:
Alvin: A performance long coming. The wingers - Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy, and especially Harvey Barnes - finally delivered after weeks of flattering to deceive. But the most gratifying thing might be how good the midfield looked without two of the usual three starters - Jacob Ramsey and Lewis Miley proving there is now legitimate squad depth. Now let's parlay this form into Premier League points.
Steve: Difficult start with Benfica looking very good on the counter but Gordon's goal came just at the right time. We were dominant in the second half and could have scored two or three more. From Nick Pope to Nick Woltemade, all put in a good shift despite some tired legs. We need to beat Fulham well to confirm this upward trajectory.
Andrew: A complete performance. We look like a much more mature Champions League team this time around. A confidence-boosting win that will hopefully be the springboard for the season!
Mickey: We were superb. If we brought this game to the Premier League every week, we would shoot up the table. Precise passing, quick movement, good defending and lethal in front of goal - we made Benfica look ordinary.
Christopher: Generally impressive, if somewhat nervy in the opening half hour. We won't get away with that against the top sides.
Gordon: Excellent performance and result for Newcastle tonight. Gordon had his best game of the season, Bruno Guimaraes pulled the strings in the middle, Woltemade was pure class while Miley and Ramsey looked at home in the starting XI. The back four looked comfortable despite missing our first-choice fullbacks, and even Pope chipped in with an assist. Just shows what we're capable of when all the players turn up.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Everton and Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend says Anthony Gordon is "one of the best" in the Premier League in his position.
Gordon be came the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League games on Tuesday and also registered an assist for Harvey Barnes in the Magpies' 3-0 win over Benfica.
Townsend played alongside Gordon at Everton between 2021 and 2023, but at the time did not see the now 24-year-old developing into the player he has become.
"When I first joined Everton, he was a young lad and you could see he had quality," Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He had immense pace obviously but he didn't really work hard enough.
"The modern day winger needs to be the first line of the press and he wasn't doing that. Then it started clicking for him, he started getting in the team, he started getting joy and the fans loved him.
"But even still, by the time Newcastle bought him for £50m, I think Everton fans were thinking they had the better end of the deal.
"Since then however, he's just put it all together."
Gordon started twice and scored once for England during the last international break and Townsend believes he now has the opportunity to nail down his place in Thomas Tuchel's side going into the World Cup next summer.
"He's got the quality, the consistence, the pace and out of possession he works hard," he added. "He's one of the best in the Premier League in his position.
"At the age of 24, he has absolutely everything and the world is his oyster now for club and country going into next summer's World Cup."
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Image source, Getty ImagesAnthony Gordon says "it means everything" to be the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League games but insists his "ambition doesn't stop there."
The forward scored the opening goal at St James' Park on Tuesday as Newcastle beat Benfica 3-0 to climb to seventh in the Champions League table.
"Because we had so many chances, we had to put one away to calm the nerves," Gordon told TNT Sports. "I was glad to see it go in.
"I knew [Jacob Murphy] was going to play that ball every time. That goal is all about him."
On Nick Pope, who provided the assist for Harvey Barnes: "We all love 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."
Image source, Getty ImagesNick Pope's throw for Harvey Barnes' first goal against Benfica was measured at 65 yards.
And his team-mates knew exactly who to celebrate with.
Assist of the season?
Image source, Getty ImagesCiaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesEddie Howe rightly wanted more.
Nick Woltemade has made an impressive start to his Newcastle career, but the German has had to shoulder the goalscoring burden very quickly since his £69m move from Stuttgart.
Woltemade has scored four of Newcastle's past five goals in the Premier League and they needed others to step up.
In this competition, both Gordon and Barnes have done so.
After scoring his first ever Champions League goal in the 2-1 defeat against Barcelona, which ended up proving a mere consolation, Gordon followed that up with a couple of penalties in the 4-0 rout of Union Saint-Gilloise.
But this was his most crucial contribution yet.
St James' was tense, nervy even, after Newcastle escaped a couple of scares following Lukebakio's efforts.
But the momentum of the game and, indeed, the atmosphere changed once Gordon opened the scoring.
And what about Barnes?
Like Gordon, he has yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League this season but has also come alive in Europe, scoring three goals in three appearances.
Woltemade may have failed to find the back of the net, but it did not matter because his team-mates stepped up.
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports: "I am really pleased. Benfica are a very good team so we had to show our quality. I thought we were patient, we had chances and didn't score early but we kept at it.
"Once we scored our second goal, you saw the real us and what we can be. I thought we were excellent afterwards."
When asked if this is the best squad he has assembled at the club: "We have strength, but it is on paper - you have to go and prove it. The squad last season won a trophy, we have to go to work and prove the strength of the squad warrants the feeling I have.
"We are full of good players, we haven't quite clicked into gear yet but hopefully this is the start of what we can be."
On Nick Pope's assist: "I can't take credit for that! We are working on a few things with Nick with his distribution and his throwing is a big strength of his. He is a very good goalkeeper and he showed that today."
Newcastle goalscorer Harvey Barnes also spoke to TNT Sports: "Last season we weren't in Europe and that hurt the players - this is what we want to be in, there is nothing better.
"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."
Did you know?
All of Newcastle's goals and assists came from an English player - Harvey Barnes (two goals), Anthony Gordon (one goal, one assist), Jacob Murphy (one assist), Nick Pope (one assist).
Newcastle's Nick Pope became the second English goalkeeper to assist a Uefa Champions League goal after Fraser Foster for Celtic against Barcelona in November 2012.
Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
What did you think of Newcastle's performance?
Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies
Eddie Howe has made three changes to his Newcastle United side for the Champions League game against Benfica.
Lewis Miley, Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy come into the starting line-up in place of Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Anthony Elanga following the weekend defeat against Brighton.
Tonali was a doubt for this game with illness and only makes the bench.
Newcastle starting XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Miley, Ramsey Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Subs: Thompson, Ramsdale, Schar, Joelinton, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has also made three changes
As expected, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, captain Nicolas Otamendi and midfielder Richard Rios all come back into the starting line-up after being rested for the win against Chaves in the Portuguese Cup last week.
Benfica starting XI: Trubin, Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Araujo, Rios, Barrenchea, Aursnes, Sudakov, Lukebakio, Pavlidis
There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday, three featuring Premier League teams and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Barcelona v Olympiacos (17:45)
Kairat Almaty v Pafos (17:45)
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Copenhagen v Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St-Germain
Newcastle v Benfica
PSV Eindhoven v Napoli
Union Saint-Gilloise v Inter Milan
Villarreal v Manchester City
Kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Atletico Madrid".
Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
Charlotte Robson
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle United have not won a Premier League game away from home since April. That seems like a long time, doesn't it? Yes, in a lot of ways. No, in others. What a conclusive thesis this is!
This weekend exposed more of our issues, but also showed flickers of light. Some embers from which Newcastle can once again rise. I told you once I was an irritating optimist and surprise! I have not changed.
Broadly speaking I cannot ignore our poor away form, and the uninspiring start to our season so far, and the fact that we are approximately one injury away from panic mode.
But, today, I want to hone in on the good news. And the good news is that Nick Woltemade and Lewis Miley play for us. I have watched many iterations of Newcastle United and I know how daft it is to just rely on one player being very good, and hope for flashes of brilliance, but in the absence of any creativity elsewhere on the pitch, watching Woltemade backheel the ball straight into the goal on Saturday was an extremely welcome reprieve.
It is not just one player though, don't worry. You can add in Miley, who came on after half time at the weekend to offer a bit more pace and press to our midfield.
Miley is an academy product who has been nurtured by the club carefully, and you can see what he might be able to offer us in the next few years. Not a single misplaced pass, and a technical ability on the ball that we did not have before, meant that he was able to provide the assist that brought us level (albeit only for a short time).
There are problems that need to be solved by Eddie Howe - and soon - but I think these two might be a massive part of the answer.
Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was 8.25pm by the time Jose Mourinho finished up on Monday evening.
The Benfica manager had just spent the best part of half an hour answering questions in both Portuguese and English ahead of tonight's Champions League game against Newcastle United.
Yet Mourinho looked like he could have talked for another while longer in the media suite at St James' Park.
It is hard to think of an opposition manager who has such an affection for another club without ever taking charge of them.
But that was the profound impact mentor Sir Bobby Robson left on his former assistant during their time together at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.
"There wasn't a single day he didn't show his passion for Newcastle, for the city, for the region, for the football club," Mourinho said. "I have never hidden how dear Newcastle is to me because of the influence of a legendary person at this club."
Mourinho, a two-time winner of the competition, could not have been more complimentary about Newcastle.
He predicted Newcastle are "closer to bigger things". He spoke about how "happy" he was after opposite number Eddie Howe ended the club's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy last season. He even revealed he told his players that the atmosphere at St James' was "beautiful".
And the 62-year-old was not finished yet.
After making his way past the bust of Sir Bobby, in the players' entrance, Mourinho even signed autographs and posed for photographs with fans who had gathered outside.
But it goes without saying that Mourinho won't be quite so friendly when the game kicks off.
Having only ever won three games at St James', the Benfica manager will be desperate to get a rare result at "Mr Robson's home".
"We have to be ready to suffer on the pitch," he said.
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images"Frustrating".
That was the word Eddie Howe used to sum up Newcastle United's start to the season on Monday.
Newcastle suffered a 2-1 defeat against Brighton at the weekend to leave Howe's side in 13th place in the Premier League. And there is no time for a hangover as they quickly return to Champions League action against Benfica.
"We feel like we need another game," Howe said before the game at St James' Park on Tuesday night.
Danny Welbeck's 84th-minute winner for Albion on Saturday drew parallels with another late sucker punch Newcastle suffered, against Arsenal last month.
Their response to that setback was emphatic, just a few days later recording their biggest Champions League win by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 away from home.
Undoubtedly, Benfica will offer a sterner test.
Though the Portuguese giants have lost both of their opening European fixtures - against Qarabag and Chelsea - they were drawn from pot two for a reason after reaching the last 16 of the competition in three of the past four seasons.
They also have a two-time Champions League winner in manager Jose Mourinho, who will be desperate to prove he can still make an impact at this level.
It feels like an acid test of Newcastle's own European ambitions with goalkeeper Nick Pope hoping to take another small step towards qualifying for the knockout stages.
"It is something this football club has not done in a long time so that's a big ambition for the group," he said. "We have a top team and a top manager, and top teams get into the latter stages of the Champions League.
"Everyone wants to be a part of that."
Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, PA MediaNewcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Benfica at St. James' Park (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
There are no fresh injury concerns for Newcastle - however Sandro Tonali is "touch and go" as he battles illness.
Howe said his players "need this game" following their defeat by Brighton on the weekend and thinks his team is not "far away from being something more."
On whether Newcastle are in a transitional period after a busy transfer window: "Whenever you bring players in and lose players, in a sense it brings the word transition, but hopefully we've got the balance right. [By] not losing our identity and how we play. I don't think we have because you can see what we're trying to do."
He continued: "The effort's there, commitment is there but sometimes we haven't played with enough quality. As long as we see heart, endeavour and attitude, we'll get consistent results again. There is a sense of finding a new way of doing things."
Summer addition Anthony Elanga is still yet to score or assist for Newcastle but Howe has full belief in the winger: "Anthony is an outstanding player. There's a settling in period that he's going through and he's having to make slight adjustments. He's got a lot more to give and will in the future so I've got no doubts about his success here."
He conceded the Magpies are "desperate" for a win on Tuesday: "We love these games. The atmosphere will be electric and I hope their performance mirrors that energy. If we're at our very best, we have a good chance and we know the importance of home games.
Opposite number Jose Mourinho has had a "big impact" on Howe, who described the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss as a "visionary" who helped shape his own coaching philosophy.
He added: "It will be a competitive game between two great clubs. [Mourinho] has a way of inspiring his team to get results. We know what to expect and it will be up to us to influence our players and deliver the game plan that we want. They have an attacking threat and tactically, it will be an interesting game."
Image source, PA MediaNewcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope has not ruled out making England's 2026 World Cup squad, despite missing out on every one of Thomas Tuchel's selections so far.
The 33-year-old thinks it is best for his goalkeeping to do the talking as he keeps England hopes in the back of his mind.
"I spoke to him [Tuchel] when he took over or soon after, and I've been in regular contact with [goalkeeping coach Henrique] Hilario," Pope explained. "I feel like the communication has been really good.
"I'm in the frame if you like, and it's something that's not dead so it's nice to have in the back of your mind.
"I've been to two [World Cups] already so I think a third in America would be pretty special. At my age, you know there's not many more opportunities to come so, to get to the World Cup would be a good achievement for myself."
Pope has only conceded seven goals in the Premier League so far this season, including keeping five clean sheets.
Asked whether he pitches his own case to Tuchel, he replied: "Please pick me? No, it's best to let your football do the talking and keep the ball out of the net. I think that's always going to stand you in the best stead.
"Hopefully Dan Burn puts in a good word as well!
"But Newcastle at the minute comes first. Without Newcastle, there's no talk of England."
Andy Stevenson
Final Score reporter at Amex Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle's defeat at Brighton left them with just two wins from eight matches in the Premier League this season.
The Magpies have conceded a miserly seven goals but crucially have only scored seven themselves (compared to 17 for Manchester City, 16 for Chelsea and 15 for Arsenal).
German signing Nick Woltemade has scored four of those seven and got his first goal away from St James' Park on Saturday with a cheeky backheel finish. He had not really looked a huge goal threat before then, and the same was true of the away game at Bournemouth a few weeks ago that I also worked at. He often came quite deep and looked a bit isolated.
On paper, the likes of Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga, Bruno Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy should be creating lots of chances for Woltemade (and getting on the scoresheet regularly themselves) but it is just not happening in the league yet for some reason.
The protracted loss of Alexander Isak was obviously a big blow and Newcastle fans will be expecting much from £55m man Yoane Wissa, but there is still a number of weeks to wait for his first appearance.
Wissa has suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury rather than the notorious anterior cruciate ligament issue many first feared. He is back training on grass, but his return will not be rushed for fear of aggravating the injury, so we will not see him in black and white until mid-November, I suspect.
