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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a tough match. However such fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.