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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult game. However such worries disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.