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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a tough game. However those worries vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.