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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a tough game. But such worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

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

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.