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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. But such fears vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.