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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult match. But those fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

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

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.