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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. However such fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed a further attempt off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.