🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of 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 playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.