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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers shared a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.