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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans feared a difficult game. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the campaign.