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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult game. However such fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.