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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult match. But such worries disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

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

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed a further shot off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.