🔗 Share this article

As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. However those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create good chances.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the season.