**NEWCASTLE (4-3-3):**
**8 Pope:** Set up Barnes’ goal with a remarkable long throw and made two crucial first-half saves to deny Lukebakio
**7 Trippier:** Rock-solid defensively in the right-back berth and delivered some useful set-pieces into the box
**8 Thiaw:** Marked Pavlidis out of the game and displayed an impressive level of composure after picking up an early booking
**7 Botman**: A typically calm and composed display from the defender, whose positioning was once again excellent
**6 Burn:** Had a tough first half against the dangerous Lukebakio, but kept on battling away and making tackles
**8 Guimaraes**: Capped a fine midfield display with the pinpoint pass that helped set up Gordon’s opener
**8 Miley:** Improved as the night wore on and his confidence grew – deserves more game time than he has been getting
**6 Ramsey:** Showed plenty of energy and effort, but wasn’t really able to dictate play before he was replaced in the second half
**7 J Murphy:** Slid over a wonderful cross for Gordon’s opener and came close himself with a second-half shot that was saved
**6 Woltemade:** Didn’t really have a chance to score, but his hold-up play improved as the night wore on
**9 GORDON**: Bright, purposeful and direct - opened the scoring with his fourth Champions League goal and also set up Barnes’ late strike.
**Subs:**
**6 Joelinton (**for Ramsey, 62): Added some bite to the Newcastle midfield in the final half-hour
**8 Barnes** (for Murphy, 62): Claimed two late goals with two clinical finishes – couldn’t have done any more from the bench
Elanga (for Gordon, 85): N/A
Osula (for Woltemade, 85): N/A
Willock (for Guimares, 90): N/A
(not used): Ramsdale (gk), Thompson (gk), Schar, Krafth, A Murphy, Tonali.
**BENFICA (5-2-3):**
Trubin 6; Dedic 5 (Ivanovic 63, 4), T Araujo 4, Otamendi 4, Silva 5, Aursnes 4; Rios 5, Barrenechea 5; LUKEBAKIO 7, Pavlidis 4, Sudakov 5.
Subs (not used): Soares (gk), Obrador, Barreiro, Schjelderup, Dahl, H Araujo, Wynder, Veloso, Rego, Prioste, Lima.
**Man Of The Match:** **ANTHONY GORDON** – This was the form the winger had been displaying for England – a constant attacking threat down the left.