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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a difficult game. But such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

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

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid 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 wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.