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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 vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially found it hard to create good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with total abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.