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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. But those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's 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 create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, 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 blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.