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Andrea Pirlo and Maxi Perreira traded screamers as Milan got the point they needed against Benfica to secure qualification.

The Rossoneri needed only a point to be sure of qualification and rested Ronaldo, preferring the Christmas Tree formation with Kaka and Clarence Seedorf supporting Alberto Gilardino. Former Serie A stars Manuel Rui Costa and Nuno Gomes were leading the line for Benfica.

Milan got off to a blistering start with three shots on goal in the opening four minutes. Cristian Brocchi created a chance for Gilardino and Serginho's cross-shot threatened. Gilardino exchanged passes with Seedorf and the Dutchman's fierce strike stung Quim's palms.

Petit's deflected long-range attempt whistled wide, but the Italians were in control and opened the scoring with a sensational effort from Andrea Pirlo. He unleashed a rocket from 30 metres that slotted in at the base of the far post with the goalkeeper unable to get a fingertip to it.

Pirlo almost created a second by accident, as his free kick to the six-yard box was deflected off Leo's wayward touch to skim the upright.

Serginho's woeful defensive error sent Benfica clear on goal, but Kakha Kaladze did enough to put off Cristian Rodriguez, who fired straight at Nelson Dida. It was a warning sign, as the Portuguese equalised with a goal that more than matched Pirlo's ballistics. Maxi Perreira cut back to leave Gennaro Gattuso stranded and smacked a left-foot screamer in from 30 metres.

A Nuno Gomes header was charged down by Alessandro Nesta, then in the same move Kaka sprinted half the way up the field to have his shot bravely blocked in the box.

Rui Costa created a fine opportunity that Rodriguez drilled past the near post, but Brocchi tried to make it a hat-trick of stunning long-range strikes as he brought a tough acrobatic save out of Quim. Seedorf just failed to get on the end of Kaka's cutback, but Benfica threatened again with Kaladze flinging himself at the unmarked Maxi Perreira to turn out for a corner after Rui Costa's inspired dummy.

Serginho was poor in the first half and made way for veteran Paolo Maldini at the break. Yoann Gourcuff also replaced Brocchi, who was struggling with a back problem.

Rui Costa was on wonderful form, dribbling past a series of his former teammates to sting Dida's palms from a tight angle. Rui went on another mazy run, but this time fired wide from the edge of the box.

Benfica did hit the back of the net when Dida parried a Petit strike into the path of Nuno Gomes, but the ex-Fiorentina striker was offside. Gourcuff saw the goalkeeper off his line and attempted an audacious lob from midfield.

A spectacular Nuno Gomes volley was straight at Dida's grateful arms, then Pirlo's free kick skimmed the top corner from a tight angle.

Ronaldo was warming up ready to come on, but pulled up and asked for treatment on his knee, so this could be another setback in Il Fenomeno's battle for fitness. Instead, Massimo Oddo replace Seedorf and switched to a 4-4-2 system. Benfica went for broke with Oscar Cardozo, who was not 100 per cent fit, and Angel Di Maria.

Six minutes from time Nesta caught his studs in the turf and turned his knee, but was able to continue with a slight limp. American prodigy Freddy Adu came on for the final minutes, but Kaka risked a winner when he skipped past two defenders and the angled drive flashed across the far post.

Kaka had another great chance, but the cross was a little too far behind him and the header looped over.