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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a tough match. But those worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope once more saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.