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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a tough game. But such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there 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 accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

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

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.