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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such worries vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling 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.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the German striker deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the season.