The kneejerk reaction following a club’s biggest ever European defeat would be to lash out at the manager and players that contributed to a shameful night, but such sentiments should not be reserved for Everton’s humbling at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz on Thursday.

Woeful they may have been, but this was an Everton side fatally flawed by fitness problems, and facing a formidable force in the shape of an inspired home side.

Above anything else, Benfica were immense. Their Argentinian contingent, especially, were outstanding. With playmaker Pablo Aimar running rings around a static Everton midfield, Angel Di Maria providing a stream of threatening crosses and lighting up the game with his skill, as well as Javier Saviola applying the most clinical of cutting edges, the Portuguese club were far too strong for their under strength opponents.

Of course it was Oscar Cardozo, of Paraguay, who sparked Everton’s capitulation at the start of the second half with two goals in the space of 60 seconds, before Brazilian defender Luisao headed in a fourth just four minutes later. It was a veritable festival of South American exuberance and class.

But at the heart of it all was the aforementioned Di Maria. Although hardly an unknown given he started the match that took Argentina to the World Cup finals earlier this month, Thursday’s game may have been many supporters’ first introduction to the electric winger.

The rapturous crowd at the Estadio da Luz witnessed an illuminating display of brilliance from Di Maria, who is fulfilling the promise he first showed when setting the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup alight in Canada.

Tormenting Dan Gosling at every opportunity, showcasing a crossing ability that would make David Beckham green with envy and pulling out all manner of tricks, Di Maria was a whirling dervish of ebullience and brilliance, and Everton just could not cope with him.

But it was not altogether surprising. Witness the players missing from David Moyes’ backline alone: Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Joseph Yobo, Johnny Heitinga and Lucas Neill. Sylvain Distin aside, that left Moyes with the raw Gosling, a debutant in Seamus Coleman and an unnatural central defender, Tony Hibbert, who usually looks out of his depth at his favoured position of right back.

Much like the 6-1 hammering at the hands of Arsenal on the opening day of the season, Thursday night was not a true reflection of where Everton stand under Moyes. At full strength they are still easily one of England's better sides, and are also missing captain Phil Neville and midfield inspirations Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar at present.

Against a side that have taken 19 points from seven domestic games, and found a new lease of life under Jorge Jesus, Everton were always likely to struggle, even if the manner of some of the performances from senior players – notably Hibbert when completely giving up for Saviola’s second goal – will grate with Moyes.

Everton still have six points from their opening three games in Group I, two of which were away from home, and have the chance to exact revenge on Benfica when the Portuguese side visit Goodison on November 5. If they have a deeper pool of talent to choose from on the night, then Moyes will coax a much more memorable performance from his talented team, and one that reflects more adequately their ability and standing.