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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But such fears vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own combative style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the season.