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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. However such fears vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

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

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another shot against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League result of the season.