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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But those fears vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed a further shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.