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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult match. But those fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.