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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home fans feared a tough game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

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

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.