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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult match. But such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

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

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed a further attempt off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more saving his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.