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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough match. However those fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the area proved effective.

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

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.