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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. However those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed a further shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

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 attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the German striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.