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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. However such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger hit a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

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

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

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

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.