Newcastle United could not have asked for more from their Champions League win over Benfica.
The Magpies know that their home form is absolutely pivotal in the Champions League this season, making the clash with Benfica a must-win after losing to Barcelona in their opening game.
They managed to get the job done, with Newcastle United beating Benfica 3-0 to record consecutive European victories. Eddie Howe’s side are now on six points, and will be feeling positive about their aspirations of advancing to the next stage of the competition.
The Newcastle United manager will have been delighted with so many aspects of his team’s performance. Anthony Gordon was spectacular, while Harvey Barnes provided a brace off the bench. Howe had called on his wingers to contribute more, and they did just that at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
But what will have pleased Howe even more was the fact his side got the job done without their most important player.
Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall watch on from the touchline during Newcastle United vs Benfica.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Newcastle United were able to cope without Sandro Tonali
Heading into Tuesday night’s game against Benfica, the big question mark surrounded Sandro Tonali’s availability. The midfielder missed training on Monday because of illness, but was not ruled out of the Champions League contest.
However, when team news dropped, Tonali was only named on the bench. Instead, Lewis Miley took his place in the middle of midfield.
It was a show of faith from Howe, who knows fine well that Tonali is the player that makes his team tick. Over the past 12 months, he has been without a doubt the best player in a black and white shirt.
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Since his return from suspension, this was the first major game that Tonali has sat out. Given the magnitude of the fixture, that represented a risk.
However, Newcastle United did not need Tonali. In his absence, Miley produced a wonderful display that once again reinforced how mature he has become at the age of 19.
Howe said Miley did really well against Benfica, and that was reflected in the fact that he played the full 90 minutes while Tonali sat on the bench.
Amid this relentless run of games, the Magpies need to rotate their squad and rest key players when they can. Howe did that with Tonali on Tuesday night, but did not pay the price.
Lewis Miley gives Eddie Howe a tough decision to make
Up next for Newcastle United is Fulham at home in the Premier League. It is another must-win game for the Magpies, having suffered a setback in the league up against Brighton last Saturday.
While Eddie Howe’s side are impressing in the Champions League, they will not be competing in it next season if they do not buck up their ideas domestically.
With that in mind, the Toon boss must now decide whether or not he changes a winning team for the clash with the Cottagers.
The biggest decision he must make is whether Tonali, who has signed a new Newcastle United contract, immediately reclaims his place in the starting XI. Logic would dictate that he should, as he is Howe’s most important player and this is an incredibly important game.
But what a show of faith it would be to stick with Miley. It would serve as a major confidence boost for a player who wanted to leave Newcastle on loan during the summer transfer window.