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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters feared a tough game. But those worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

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

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.