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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a difficult match. But such fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger hit a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting 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 shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.