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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough match. However such worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

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

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

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

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.