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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough game. But such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the German striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.