The seven-time winner, forced to play the tie behind closed doors after racial abuse was aimed at Kalidou Koulibaly in last month's meeting with Napoli, was two up early on through Mauro Icardi's penalty and Antonio Candreva's measured strike.

Luciano Spalletti's side put the game to bed on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Dalbert's powerful finish, with Lautaro Martinez adding the fourth after the interval. 

Benevento deservedly reduced the deficit when Roberto Insigne steered home a precise free-kick, only for Martinez to net again before Filippo Bandinelli's goal brought the game's tally to seven.

And there was time for one more, perhaps the pick of the bunch, as Candreva netted at the end of a fine solo run.

If the visitor had plans to keep it tight in the opening exchanges, it was foiled inside three minutes. Luca Antei fouled Candreva in the area and Icardi confidently converted from the spot. 

Benevento should have been level soon after, but Andres Tello side-footed straight at Daniele Padelli from eight yards out. 

And the underdog, whichho lost twice against Inter en route to relegation last season, was made to pay when Candreva drilled home after Icardi's header had bounced back off the post.

With Inter boasting an unbeaten home run stretching back to September, a route back into the match seemed unlikely for Benevento, who nonetheless applied themselves willingly as Insigne forced a smart stop from Padelli. 

But its already dwindling hopes practically vanished when Dalbert raced onto the end of the impressive Ivan Perisic's pass to lash beyond Lorenzo Montipo for his first Inter goal. 

The rout continued when Martinez nodded in Perisic's cross three minutes after the restart, but Benevento finally got off the mark themselves as Insigne converted a fine set-piece from 20 yards. 

Another Perisic assist allowed Martinez to double his tally as Montipo was beaten for a fifth time from six shots on target, with Sassuolo loanee Bandinelli's header from Riccardo Improta's cross preceding Candreva's excellent last-gasp goal.