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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing the German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.