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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough game. However those worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the backline, they at first struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt against the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope again saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first European points of the season.