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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters feared a tough game. However those fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more saving his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.