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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough game. However such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the backline, they initially found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

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

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the season.