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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike 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 a further shot against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the campaign.