IN the aftermath of Newcastle's 3-0 win against Benfica last night (October 22), this week in the Toon Crier, we're comparing Newcastle's Premier League lows to their Champions League highs.
### A stark trend
Starting with the bad news, Newcastle's 2-1 loss away to Brighton on Saturday (October 18) was their seventh Premier League away game in a row without a win, and it was yet another away game characterised by a lack of chances created.
It took until Bruno Guimaraes' effort in the 74th minute for Newcastle to record their first shot on target in the match, with Newcastle producing an abject three shots on target during the whole game.
One of those shots came from Nick Woltemade, whose sumptuous 76-minute flick to put Newcastle on level terms, in the only chance that they ever really looked like scoring.
The result and manner of performance against Brighton underscored a worrying trend for Newcastle, who have been struggling on the road as of late.
After not scoring at home since February, Ex Sunderland player Danny Welbeck continued his fine run of form against Newcastle, bagging a brace _(Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)_
[As reported in The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6728164/2025/10/20/newcastle-away-form-trends-eddie-howe/?ref=ed_direct), since their last away Premier League win, which came against Leicester City on April 7, Newcastle's average xG away from home has equated to a paltry 1.2 per match, which is below their home xG at 1.8.
What is also apparent, certainly in their 25/26 Premier League campaign, is Newcastle's lack of diversity in terms of goal scorers - with only Woltemade (four goals), Guimaraes (two), and William Osula (one) netting for the Magpies.
Other players need to start chiming in with goals - namely Newcastle's wide options, who have struggled to both score, provide, and create this season.
In a combined 1,408 minutes of Premier League football, between Anthony Elanga (373 mins), Jacob Murphy (357 mins), Anthony Gordon (342 mins), and Harvey Barnes (336 mins), only Murphy has scored or assisted (one assist).
Elanga has had flashes of brilliance, particularly in the Champions League, but hasn't quite found his feet yet in the Premier League. More is expected from the Swede, who directly contributed to 17 Premier League goals last season.
For now, the Seagulls' hegemony at the Amex continues, and the Magpies will have to wait another season to break the curse.
### A bright start
It's not all doom and gloom, as yesterday (October 21), in a contrasting performance to their showing versus Brighton at the weekend, Newcastle continued their good run of form in the Champions League, dispatching Benfica 3-0.
A tightly contested match in the first half turned into a dominating performance in the second, as Newcastle secured its first home Champions League win since beating PSG 4-1 in October 2023.
Chances were shared in the first 45 minutes. Benfica right winger Dodi Lukébakio was the most threatening player during the match and forced Pope into a few good saves throughout.
In the 15th minute, after beating Dan Burn, he forced Pope into a really good save before going agonisingly close several minutes later when his curled shot clipped the top left-hand post.
Newcastle then began to get more into the game and went ahead in the 32nd minute - a classic Eddie Howe Newcastle United goal.
The Magpies won the ball on the halfway line through a smart Malick Thiaw interception, who then played it first time to Guimaraes, who cutely threaded it down the right to Jacob Murphy, who, in trademark fashion, picked out a grateful Anthony Gordon in the box, who couldn't miss.
Gordon got back to his best against Benfica, putting in a man-of-the-match performance _(Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)_
As expected, the game slowed down in the second half as Newcastle looked to shut out Benfica and catch them on the break.
In the 70th minute, Newcastle grabbed their second in a move out of nothing. Nick Pope collected the ball with Benfica high up the pitch and, with a sensational throw into the Lisbon side's half, found substitute Harvey Barnes, who bent the ball from the right-hand side into the bottom left-hand corner, nicking the post on the way in; a superb goal.
Just thirteen minutes later, Newcastle went three up. Gordon, who was at the heart of the action during the whole game, gathered the ball from a Nick Woltemade flick and slid through Barnes, who coolly dispatched through the legs of the keeper.
That just about rounded off a measured win for Newcastle who are back to their best. Defence brilliant, midfield controlled, and most importantly, the attack was back to its best.
Gordon ran the show in his best outing of the season. His mazy runs, trickery, and direct play were crucial. The game will also serve to provide other Newcastle-wide players, Murphy and Barnes, with some much-needed confidence.
Special mentions need to go to Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Pope, with the latter compensating for his poor control of the ball with a few great saves and a rare assist.
That makes it two wins from three in the Champions League, and at the time of writing, it leaves Newcastle sat seventh in the 36-team league.
An excellent performance and victory, as well as a vital mood booster, and hopefully something Newcastle can bring back into the Premier League as they go again this Saturday (October 25), a 3 pm home fixture vs Fulham.