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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans were concerned about a tough game. However those fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed another shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion 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 ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.