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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. However those fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle the backline, they initially struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.