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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. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

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

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.