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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult game. But such worries disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.