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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European points of the season.