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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground 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 defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.