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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult match. But those fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.

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

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, 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 destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.