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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a tough game. However such worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.