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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult match. But such fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause 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 showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.