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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But such fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit another attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.