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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans feared a tough match. But those worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.