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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters feared a difficult match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing the German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.