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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a tough match. However those worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the backline, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the German striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.