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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

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

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European result of the campaign.