MILAN (AFP) - Reigning champions AC Milan started where they left off last season to beat Benfica 2-1 at the San Siro stadium here on Tuesday to kick off their Champions League defence on a high.

First half goals from Andrea Pirlo and Italian veteran Filippo Inzaghi was enough to put Carlo Ancelotti's men top of Group D on this opening night of pool matches.

Substitute Nuno Gomes earned Benfica a consolation goal in the second minute of injury time.

Milan may have won only one of their three matches in the Serie A this season but they did not show any weaknesses in their opening match in 2007/08 European competition.

No team has ever won consecutive titles since the European Cup became the Champions League in the early 90's but Milan have a great deal of pedigree at their disposal in their attempt to repeat the triumph.

Star Brazilian striker Kaka, who top scored in the competition last season, was back in the side following their weekend league match against Sienna.

Inzaghi, who scored both goals in Milan's 2-1 victory over Liverpool in last season's final, also returned, as did fellow goalscorer on the night Pirlo who had been suffering from a calf injury.

Benfica, yet to concede a goal in the Portuguese league this season under new coach Jose Antonio Camacho, fielded former Milan player Rui Costa. Injured absentees included Luisao, David Luiz, Marc Zoro and Petit.

Milan needed little time to illustrate their superiority. From a freekick in the ninth minute, Pirlo managed to find the net with a curling shot from the left into the top corner of Quim's net for his fifth goal in the competition.

Midway through the half, Benfica's Oscar Cardozo caused a scare by hitting the post but a couple of minutes later Milan were further ahead.

Pirlo set up Inzaghi with a chip from the right, leaving him to turn and volley the ball home with his right foot in the 24th minute.

Inzaghi had a blemish on the night as English referee Mike Riley brandished a yellow card in his direction with about 20 minutes left.

Daniele Bonera and Emerson came on for Milan in the final quarter-hour however no more goals were added to their score.

Benfica had a late reason to celebrate when Nuno Gomes slid in at the far post to score from Konstantinos Katsouranis's low cross from the left but it could not keep defeat at bay.