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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a difficult match. But those fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive approach. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

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

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

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

Gordon's scorching pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove 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 sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.