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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters feared a tough game. However those worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the post, the home side woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. However, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.