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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a tough match. But such fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.