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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But such worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.