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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a difficult match. But such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth passing tempo.

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

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total abandon. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive composure to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick 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.