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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a tough match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

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

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.