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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But such worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another attempt off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker back. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.