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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters feared a tough game. But such fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger hit another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, 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. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker back. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.