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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But those fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

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

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.