Everton were unable to avenge their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Benfica in the Estadio da Luz a fortnight ago as Jorge Jesus' side outclassed them in a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.

It is by no means a disaster for David Moyes side, despite the fact that they haven't notched a point in the competition since beating BATE Borisov over a month ago, as the Belarusian champs drew with AEK Athens in the group's other game.

Everton were boosted by the return of left-back Leighton Baines who was absent a fortnight ago, but were still several players short of full strength as Moyes battles on with his injury hit squad.

The home side made an industrious start to the game but always looked short of inspiration compared with their continental rivals, who boasted the South American trio of Oscar Cordozo, Chelsea and Manchester United target Angel Di Maria and Javier Saviola in their attacking armour.

Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini did force an early save from Julio Cesar with a long-range strike, while Tim Cahill, ever a threat in the air, headed straight at the Brazilian keeper from a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov cross.

It was Benfica though who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, a Fabio Coentrao cross from the left was met by Cardozo but the Paraguayan could only direct his header onto the post, while Saviola's follow up was brilliantly kept out by Tim Howard.

David Moyes would have been pleased to have gone in level, but it didn't take long for the Portuguese side's class to really begin to show in the second period, especially with the introduction of Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar.

Cardoza first picked the lock in the Toffee's defence sending Di Maria through, but the man of the match from a fortnight ago shot over when he should have done better.

Di Maria then almost rectified his error with an audacious long shot to which Howard was equal to it.

Jesus' side then really got their passing game going, and Everton had no answer to the Portuguese outfit's precise attacking play.

he visitors made their dominance tell when Saviola latched on to a fortuitous ricochet off Di Maria to slot home after a neat initial build up.

There was an element of luck about Benfica's second as well, Ruben Amorim's shot deflecting into the path of Cardozo after another breathtaking move, and the Paraguayan responded well to turn the ball into the bottom corner.

Sylvain Distin should have ensured a tense finish, but couldn't finish when a blocked shot fell into his path late on, but there was no denying the gulf in class between the two sides, David Moyes will feel his side might have faired better had they not been without so many key players.

Everton (4-5-1): Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines; Gosling (Jo, 69'), Cahill, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov; Yakubu (Agard 81')

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar; Ruben Amorim, Luisao, Sidnei, David Luiz; Javi Garcia, Ramires (Pereira 45'); Coentrao (Aimar 61'), Saviola (Felipe Menezes 87'), Di Maria; Cardozo