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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home fans feared a tough match. However those worries vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.