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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a tough match. However such fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' 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.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.