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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home fans were concerned about a tough match. But those fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

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

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.