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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a tough match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further shot off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.