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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a tough match. However such fears disappeared due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

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

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the backline, they initially struggled to create good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.