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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a tough match. However such fears vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their own combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.