🔗 Share this article

As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans feared a difficult match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar combative style. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.