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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a tough game. However those fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger hit a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the season.