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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a tough game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and 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 gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.