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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home fans feared a tough match. But such worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.