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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a tough game. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.