🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans feared a difficult match. However those fears disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for 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 the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League points of the season.