🔗 Share this article

As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a tough match. However such worries vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another attempt against the post, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to shift the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.