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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult game. But those worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another attempt against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.