🔗 Share this article

As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

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

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for 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 Pope sent a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.