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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough game. But such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

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

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.