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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult match. But those fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they at first struggled to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

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 real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.