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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. But such fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.