🔗 Share this article

As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult match. But such fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

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

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.