AC Milan opened the defense of their European title with a victory over Group D rivals Benfica that was easier than the scoreline suggested.
An inspirational Andrea Pirlo turned in a fine performance volleying home Milan's first before flighting a measured pass to Inzaghi to fire home their second.
The away side grabbed a consolation goal with the last kick of the game when substitute Nuno Gomes slid in to punish a sleeping Milan defense but there was not enough time to mount the attack that could have yielded an equaliser.
Milan got off to an impressive start and when Kostas Katsouranis gave away a needless free-kick with a rash challenge on Marek Jankulovski.
Pirlo, the man-of-the-match in last year's World Cup final for Italy, curled a picture-perfect free-kick past Benfica keeper Quim to give the defending champions a ninth-minute lead.
An unconvincing Benfica defense gifted Italian international striker Filippo Inzaghi the chance to make it two minutes later when he did well to control a cross before spoiling it by shooting wide of the post.
The busy Benfica keeper Quim found himself with more work to do minutes later when Massimo Ambrosini volleyed a Pirlo free-kick towards the top corner only for the Benfica stopper to push it acrobatically wide of the post.
With Milan on the attack and exposed at the back Benfica almost got back into the game with Oscar Cardozo thumping a 25-yard effort against the post.
Minutes later former Milan player Rui Costa drove a free-kick just wide from 25 yards out after Pirlo was judged to have brought down Cristian Rodriguez.
However, Milon strengthened their dominance in the 24th minute when Inzaghi fired past Quim to double the home sides lead.
The impressive Pirlo was once again involved in a sweeping Milan move, chipping a weighted pass past two defenders for the striker to volley Milan's second of the night.
Towards the end of the half Milan were once again caught napping but Dida saved well from close range, partly redeeming himself for the clanger which gifted Siena two points in their last Serie A game.
The home side continued to attack in the second-half with Jankulovski smashing one attempt wide and skying another glorious opportunity over the bar moments later.
Inzaghi should have made it three but squandered a chance from inside the box, failing to place the ball either side of Quim and substitute Emerson had a dipping volley turned over the bar late on as Milan pushed for a third goal.
Benfica punished a lacklustre Milan defense scoring a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. Katsouranis passed the ball across the Milan box for substitute Nuno Gomes to slide in and score his side's first goal of the campaign.
