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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But those worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.