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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters were concerned about a tough game. But those fears disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.