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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. But such fears disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed a further shot off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting 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 a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.