The moment of quick thinking came in the 70th minute, with Newcastle already in control. After collecting a cross, Pope spotted Barnes unmarked near the halfway line. The England international raced to the edge of his penalty area and launched an overarm throw that sailed deep into Benfica’s half, splitting the defense and finding Barnes in stride.
Benfica defender Antonio Silva tried to intercept the audacious pass but failed to cut it out, leaving Barnes clear on goal. The winger calmly slotted the ball low into the corner to double Newcastle’s lead — and most of the ensuing celebration centered not on the scorer, but on Pope, who was swarmed by jubilant teammates in his own area.
“I’m not sure I can take too much credit for that,” manager Eddie Howe said afterward with a grin. “We have been working with Nick on his distribution — throwing is actually one of his big strengths — but I wouldn’t say that exact move was planned. Of course, distribution is so important in the modern game.”
Earlier, Anthony Gordon had opened the scoring for Newcastle, capping a dominant first-half display. Barnes later grabbed his second of the night to seal the victory, ensuring a perfect evening for Howe’s side and keeping their Champions League campaign firmly on track.
For Pope, the assist was a rare and memorable contribution — a reminder that in modern football, goalkeepers can create as much as they can save.