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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home fans were concerned about a tough game. However those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative style. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

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

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.