Novocastrian

Porto 3 Braga 1 now 5 mins to go.

We can do this, the whole team seemed very disappointed after the first leg which translated into a nervy and sterile first half today. The effort in the second half and Cisse's late winner seemed to galvanise the team judging by some of the player tweets post match. We have some momentum and a never say die spirit. We are wounded and stricken with injuries, it's already been a long season for the players, many of whom are visibly tired. Despite all that we have belief and 50,000 Geordies behind us. Howay the Lads!

He oozes class, an amazingly gifted footballer.

Goal Wigan!

He must practice that in training because it looked a lot more difficult than the last one. Maybe we should get all of the defence practicing it, in years to come it will be a common defensive skill.

One of the best in Europe according to Pardew They are dog toffee, shame we couldn't give them a game. Not sure who to blame, depressing. Classic reaction. I get you're p*ssed off with the manner of the goals, anyone would be. But there's a natural tendency to think the opposition wasn't any good when you're blaming yourselves for a defeat. They weren't world beating, they weren't brilliant, but they were good. Their passing and movement was clearly superior and thus deserved to win the game. Despite that however the tie is far from over due to their very slack defending. But yes, can totally see why you'd be p*ssed off at how the goals came about. I watch them every week and don't rate them, I think a decent team would take them to the cleaners. In my opinion they are very average, bar a couple of stupid mistakes we could have been set tonight so yes I am frustrated. You should pop to Specsavers the next time you're over in England; they're one of the better European teams and have a ridiculous amount of attacking talent for a non-'elite' club (Spa, Ger, Ita, Eng, etc). That Barca team are generally considered 'decent' aren't they? I watch them rollover a succession of decidedly non-elite teams every week. When they play someone decent they struggle, yes they were great in the Nou Camp against a disinterested Barcelona but Barca swatted them aside in their own stadium and could have scored a few more.

What's the crack with the Northumbria police "spotters" hassling normal fans? Bunch of arseholes, picking on grandads and people minding their own business.

One of the best in Europe according to Pardew They are dog toffee, shame we couldn't give them a game. Not sure who to blame, depressing. Classic reaction. I get you're p*ssed off with the manner of the goals, anyone would be. But there's a natural tendency to think the opposition wasn't any good when you're blaming yourselves for a defeat. They weren't world beating, they weren't brilliant, but they were good. Their passing and movement was clearly superior and thus deserved to win the game. Despite that however the tie is far from over due to their very slack defending. But yes, can totally see why you'd be p*ssed off at how the goals came about. I watch them every week and don't rate them, I think a decent team would take them to the cleaners. In my opinion they are very average, bar a couple of stupid mistakes we could have been set tonight so yes I am frustrated.

One of the best in Europe according to Pardew They are dog toffee, shame we couldn't give them a game. Not sure who to blame, depressing. Stop using those names. You lack sophistication. Ok cheers.

One of the best in Europe according to Pardew They are dog toffee, shame we couldn't give them a game. Not sure who to blame, depressing.

Just got home after being "kettled". Anyone still think Benfica are world beaters? They were very average again. Unfortunately we were shite .

Were they drinking? Yes, Nicola Portuguese coffee!

Just met Steve Stone and some of the coaching staff in my local in Cascais. Wouldn't give out any team news but he said the team is in good spirits and feeling confident. They bought me and my mate a pint, cheers lads!! Next stop Lisboa.

You'd leave Sissoko out for Perch then? On this occasion yes. Don't get me wrong I think Sissoko is a far, far better player than Perch but I don't see a lineup we can put out tonight that will outplay Benfica so I think a defensive and physical XI is our best chance of getting something. Alan, shouldn't you be preparing for the game?

May i ask you why? Because i never heard any tourist saying he had a bad time in Lisbon or Portugal for all that matters. But i guess you can't please everyone. I'd been to Porto and thought it was very nice so looked forward to coming here. There was no one offering to sell me drugs on the street every 30 seconds or having to watch my pockets all the time there though. Lisbon is vey safe, much safer than most European capitals. Yes you need to take normal precautions but its a great place. The Portuguese are very friendly and love their football. I'm leaving the house now, couple of beers in Cascais and then train into Lisboa, hope to see some of you around, I'm wearing a no 10 Ben Arfa shirt and I've got a black and white Union Jack. Howay the Lads!!!!

He looked lean and mean at the weekend, seems to have found his mojo again.

I agree with the first part. I'm pretty sure Pardew is sitting right now going over his plan to go out for the 0-0 draw. Fearing Benfica on the otherhand, I actually fear them like I'd fear any team away at this stage of the competition. At this stage five minutes of madness can see you concede 2 goals and totally alter the whole tie. It's just as likely to happen to them as us in my opinion.

Las year we finish 1st in a group with man united How far did you get? Man Utd been in three finals in the last few years, as well as Arsenal, Chelsea x 2, Liverpool x 2 on top of a tougher league programme, no winter break Yiddish yardda etc etc Give over man! If you want to talk about european finals.... SL Benfica: 7 European Champions/ Champions League finals I've been in your trophy room, 22,000 trophies (some for cycling). Very impressive. Won't help you tomorrow when we unleash Shola. You have been warned.

Las year we finish 1st in a group with man united How far did you get? Man Utd been in three finals in the last few years, as well as Arsenal, Chelsea x 2, Liverpool x 2 on top of a tougher league programme, no winter break Yiddish yardda etc etc Give over man!

Portuguese league is a pushover. To compare the relative merits of Benfica and the PL "top 4" compare their recent Champs League record. Yes this year was poor for the English clubs but Benfica couldn't get out of a group containing Celtic and Spartak Moscow. M'lud, I rest my case.

Nice in Lisbon today, shorts weather for Geordies. Unfortunately it's been pissing down on and off for weeks so hopefully Thursday will be nice.

Not seen anything like that at any of Benfica's European games this season. The Spartak Mosow fans were swigging bottles of vodka just outside the ground, some of them were totally ball bagged and they still got in although I saw one particularly inebriated Russian get hoyed out the Benfica end for being too lairy.

Bayer? Bordeaux yes, definitely very limited, but Bayer not really. They're currently 3rd in Bundesliga, close to Dortmund and ahead of Schalke. I would say they are the 2nd/3rd best team we played so far this season. Barcelona / Bayer or Porto. But all of this is futurology. I hope Newcastle comes to Lisbon inspired and provides a good match. I'm certain you have talent enough to compete at this stage of Europa League. Well said Sir.

I don't care about what managers say, but regarding Rio Ave. Sporting 0-1 Rio Ave Rio Ave 2-2 FC Porto Rio Ave 3-0 Sporting Rio Ave 2-1 Sporting Rio Ave 1-1 SC Braga This season they drawn against Braga and Porto, beaten Sporting 3 times. Far for crap. Mate they are shite, I was at the Sporting Rio Ave game, Sporting are shite too. I was also at the Benfica Bayer and Bordeaux home games, it wasn't vintage stuff from Benfica and both Bayer and Bordeaux were poor. if we actually turn up you will get a shock.

Me and my mates from work could knock up a team and beat Rio Ave, be serious. Pardew is right, we can cause Benfica all sorts of problems, whether we will or not is another matter. I'm sure he was not disrespecting Benfica, he's not clever enough to do "mind games".