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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. However such worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.