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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters feared a tough game. However those worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot against the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.

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 goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope again saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

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

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.