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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. However such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.