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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans feared a tough game. But such worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

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

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger hit a further attempt against the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

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

The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German striker deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.