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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans feared a tough game. However those fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

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

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning the team's first Champions League points of the season.