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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.