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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a tough match. But those worries vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.