Watching this Newcastle team against Benfica.
Only a few hours to go until the next Champions League match at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United are looking to get six points from a possible nine so far in the Swiss League format.
This match against Benfica follows the narrow 2-1 Champions League defeat against Barcelona at SJP, followed by the dominant 4-0 win in Brussels against Union SG.
Can Eddie Howe’s side record another big Champions League victory?
If so, it would put United in a great position two weeks before another home Champions League match against Athletic Bilbao.
As a reminder, this was Newcastle’s team against Brighton on Saturday:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon, Woltemade, Elanga
Eddie Howe provided an update on injuries and availability for this Benfica match on Monday afternoon.
Yoane Wissa, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento are all still working their way back from injury.
While Eddie Howe revealed Sandro Tonali was recovering from a virus and had not trained on Monday. According to the NUFC Head Coach, it remains to be seen what the Italian international’s availability will be tonight.
So where does that leave us?
The same eleven have started the last three games against Union SG, Forest and Brighton, will it be unchanged again…?
This is my predicted Newcastle team vs Benfica:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Miley, Joelinton, Gordon, Woltemade, Murphy
If this predicted starting eleven turns out to be correct, it would mean two changes compared to the team that started in Brighton.
Miley and Murphy replace Tonali and Elanga.
I see Fabian Schar starting in the near future, with Eddie Howe giving Malick Thiaw a shift. However, I would be surprised if the United boss made any changes to the defense tonight.
Both games against Brighton were in the middle of the pitch, but that was probably as much about the midfield not providing the usual level of protection for the defense as it was about the centre-backs being at fault.
Thiaw and Botman have done well together this season and for me they will start again ahead of Nick Pope who has been excellent. While our two young England full-backs aren’t here yet, I can’t look beyond Trippier and Burn.
I thought Bruno Guimaraes was easily Newcastle’s best midfielder on Saturday, while Tonali and Joelinton were not at their best.
That was Tonali’s fourteenth start of a possible fifteen for club and country so far this season and perhaps that and this virus have combined to stop him from reaching his usual heights. Eddie Howe says he’s desperately hoping he can start against Benfica, but I feel he can come off the bench in the second half if necessary.
Joelinton didn’t have a great first half at all on Saturday. He struggled to impose himself against Brighton’s very good midfield and possibly the international trips for friendlies in South Korea and Japan did him no favors. He was seen in training on Monday and after playing just 45 minutes on Saturday, I think Joelinton will bounce back.
Lewis Miley was the one to come on for Joelinton, while Jacob Ramsey replaced Tonali with 20 minutes left this weekend. Eddie Howe said after the match, when explaining why he kept the same midfield, that he felt Ramsey was not yet fully match fit after his long absence and that Miley had missed a few weeks of training with a minor injury.
I thought Miley did well from the bench on Saturday and of course got an assist for Woltemade’s goal. I think he will get the nod if Tonali doesn’t start against Benfica.
Unless physical/injury/fitness reasons hold them back, I think Woltemade and Gordon will start again tonight. It is more unclear on the right. Elanga’s two best NUFC games were certainly in the Champions League, but he was very poor on Saturday. Murphy, on the other hand, came on and was a key factor in a much improved second-half performance for Newcastle. Perhaps, as an impact sub off the bench against a tiring Benfica, we will see Elanga’s pace come to the fore and help secure victory.
Confirmed Newcastle United matches until December 20, 2025 (all Champions League matches will also be shown on TV in Britain):
Tuesday October 21: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8 p.m.)
Saturday October 25 – Newcastle v Fulham (3 p.m.)
Wednesday October 29 – Newcastle v Spurs (8pm) ITV and Sky Sports
Sunday November 2 – West Ham v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Wednesday November 5: Newcastle United vs Athletic Club Bilbao (8pm)
Sunday November 9 – Brentford v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Saturday November 22 – Newcastle v Man City (5.30pm) Sky Sports
Tuesday November 25: Olympique Marseille – Newcastle United (8 p.m.)
Saturday November 29 – Everton v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports
Tuesday December 2 – Newcastle v Spurs (8.15pm) Sky Sports
Saturday December 6 – Newcastle v Burnley (3pm)
Wednesday December 10 – Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United (8 p.m.)
Sunday December 14 – Sunderland v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Saturday December 20 – Newcastle v Chelsea (12.30pm) TNT Sports
#Predicted #Newcastle #team #Benfica