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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But those worries disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the season.