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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. However those worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative style. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers shared a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, 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 Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.