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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult game. But those fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder 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 woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope again saving his side by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.