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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But those worries disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

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 consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper once more saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.