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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans feared a difficult match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed another shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass 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 blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.