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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But those fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to create good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

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

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European result of the season.