The team sheets are in at St James’ Park, where Eddie Howe’s Mags tackle Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in our third game of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.
After a defeat to Barcelona in our first home game of the league phase and a loss at Brighton on Saturday, we’ll be looking to bounce back and build on our 4-0 win at Union SG in our last European outing, with Benfica in need of a victory after losing their opening two Champions League games so far.
Here is how the two sides line up ahead of tonight’s 8pm kick-off…
Confirmed line-ups
Newcastle XI: Pope -Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Miley, Bruno, Ramsey – Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Subs: Thompson, Ramsdale, Schar, Joelinton, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy
Benfica XI: Trubin, Dedic, Otamendi, Antonio Silva, Tomas Araujo – Aursnes, Richard Rios, Barrenechea – Lukebakio, Sudakov, Pavlidis
Howe has made three changes from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, with Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Elanga all dropped to the bench.
Tonali has been battling a bug all week and missed some training sessions, whilst Joelinton is in need of a rest and is facing a suspension for our game against Bilbao should he pick up a yellow card tonight.
Lewis Miley, Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy start in their place, with Nick Woltemade again leading the line up top.
Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier are again Howe’s starting pair at fullback, and tonight will hopefully be a much easier game than Saturday afternoon for the veteran duo.
For Mourinho’s Benfica, Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis is one to keep an eye on after netting nine goals already this season, with former Man City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, now 37, set to come up against Nick Woltemade at the other end.
A big night under the lights on Tyneside and the ideal opportunity to bounce back. Howay the lads!
Not at all comfortable with Tonali only on the bench, think it will require Bruno and Miley in a holding position to compensate, maybe give Ramsey a floating creative position.
Otherwise too many gaps between the midfield and back four.
Joseph(Quote)
I don’t understand why Schär has lost his place in the starting lineup. Is his injury really that serious? Or, what’s more likely, Howe is simply afraid to change a lineup that’s currently getting results. Schаr is better than Thiaw, or at the very least, there should be some rotation between them.
hmd(Quote)
Fee fi fo fum, I smell the blood of Mackem scum
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Benfica are dead. In terms of level, they’re probably comparable to the current Wolves. Barnes outran four opponents when he scored that goal.
It’s been clear for a long time that Mourinho is no longer a manager, but a showman, yet there are still clubs that bite because of his name.
hmd(Quote)
Are you the local holy fool simpleton? No need to answer, it’s a rhetorical question.
hmd(Quote)
Bruno bleeds the toon
(Like Blackpool rock) All the way through.
Some great personal performances
And good to see pope back to his best..
Now the league and domestics
⚽
Referee(Quote)
I think you’ll find you are just look at your comments.You say stuff no true fan would spout.
a pennywell seagull fancier 100%
You only appeared a few weeks ago after your teams good start, posting utter rubbish like the one above and the pure bile about Eddie Howe in another post.
Go back to the smb site you’ll be gone soon anyway as your season crumbles.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
I’ve been writing on this site for the 2nd or 3rd year now. And besides that, your deduction is ridiculous, Sherlock. I don’t think you’re in a position to tell me who I can and cannot criticize. I’m only here to discuss football; you’re only here to discuss other people’s opinions. The local busybody.
hmd(Quote)
Be quiet idiot I replied to your ridiculous reply to my original comment otherwise I’d ignore you but you kept commenting on the wind up like a sad sac then try and swing it like I’m the busy body LMAO.
Typical pennywell pauper.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
As I’ve noticed, you never actually discuss the game here. Your only activity is criticizing people who have any complaints about the team’s performance. That’s exactly why you’re such a busybody.
You’re so narrow-minded you see only two types of people: Newcastle fans and Mackem scum. Go read a book, you poor sod. Start with a school atlas.
hmd(Quote)
Oh dear your wind ups are very much like you pathetic and obvious, another nobody on the internet in reality.
As for being two types of course not but your ip addy gives it away 😉
Absolutely glorious(Quote)