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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a difficult game. However those worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further attempt off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the campaign.