Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admitted his team face an "uphill challenge" in the Europa League after a 3-1 quarter-final first leg defeat at Benfica.
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The Magpies went ahead when Papiss Cisse tapped in at the far post but then conceded three goals.
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"Apart from 10 minutes at the end of the first half, I thought we were in control," the 51-year-old said. "It is an uphill challenge for us now."
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The last time Newcastle made the quarter-finals of a European competition they fell to Portuguese opposition as Sporting Lisbon claimed a 4-2 aggregate victory in 2005
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Newcastle need at least a 2-0 win to progress in the return tie on 11 April.
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But if Benfica find the net at St James' Park, the Magpies would need to score three goals to force extra time.
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On Thursday, Benfica turned the game around with two quickfire goals just after the hour mark after Pardew's side made unnecessary errors at a rain- soaked Estadio da Luz.
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With the match all-square at 1-1, Newcastle had started the second half the brightest when Cisse struck the post for the second time, before substitute Lima latched onto a slack back-pass from full-back Davide Santon and scored past returning goalkeeper Tim Krul from a tight angle.
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Newcastle then conceded again as Moussa Sissoko ducked away from a header and the ball struck Steven Taylor on the arm.
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Benfica's top-scorer Oscar Cardozo held his nerve to place the ball past Krul from a retaken penalty and give his side a clear advantage for the return leg.
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"We probably had them just where we wanted them before the second goal and then we conceded two poor goals," Pardew told BBC Radio 5 live.
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"There was obviously a mistake for the first of them, but the second was unlucky. It looked like Taylor caught Sissoko's boot-lace with his studs and it has affected his jump and we have gifted them a third."
I do not think they would be able to qualify on both legs. Benfica did well for their fans with the win they got. Congrats