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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.