Newcastle United secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League at St James' Park on Tuesday night. The win came as a welcome boost for Eddie Howe's side ahead of their Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for the Magpies, latching onto a pass from Jacob Murphy. The 24-year-old England international has now scored four goals in three Champions League matches this season, catching the attention of Benfica manager Jose Mourinho. After the final whistle, Mourinho approached Gordon and told him: 'You are too much.' Gordon later described the compliment as significant, having grown up idolising Mourinho.
Harvey Barnes added two more goals in the second half, both coming off the substitutes' bench. The brace capped an impressive individual performance for the winger as Newcastle dominated proceedings.
Meanwhile, midfielder Sandro Tonali signed a contract extension during his lengthy suspension for betting offences. Initially joining from AC Milan on a five-year deal until 2028, his contract now runs until 2029 with an option for an additional year. Sporting director Ross Wilson is expected to discuss improved terms with Tonali's representatives, although the club have already extended his deal.
According to reports, Tonali has no intention of following Alexander Isak's example by pushing for a move if a new agreement is not reached. The Italian international values his development under Howe and is not considering a return to Italy at this stage of his career.
