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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But those worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.