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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a difficult game. However those worries vanished due to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for 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 superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.