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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult match. But such worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

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

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.