Benitez endured a troublesome six-month spell in charge of the Milan giants in 2010, which ended when he was unceremoniously sacked despite winning the FIFA Club World Cup, but could easily have enjoyed a victory against his former employers in the Serie A clash at San Siro on Saturday.
An even first half saw both sides create numerous chances, but Napoli forward Jose Callejon was wasteful at one end, while goalkeeper Jose Reina was rarely troubled and the Spaniard was alert when he was called into action.
There was concern for the Naples club late on, when Argentina striker Higuain was carried off with an ankle injury following a challenge with Marco Andreolli and Benitez will be hoping it does not prove to be serious.
Benitez's quest for revenge almost got off to the perfect start, when Callejon latched on to a left-wing cross in the first minute but his looping effort went back across goal and dropped wide.
Mazzarri saw his men grow into the game with some crisp passing in midfield, but they could only threaten from long range, as Mateo Kovacic shot agonisingly wide before Reina palmed away Hernanes' stinging drive.
Dries Mertens presented Callejon with a glorious chance 13 minutes in, but the former Real Madrid man poked the Belgium winger's low cross wide from just six yards.
Callejon's miss was nearly compounded by a Napoli sending off when Miguel Angel Britos tripped Rodrigo Palacio in the 26th minute, but the Uruguayan escaped with just a yellow card despite being the last man.
In the 50th minute the visitors went close twice in quick succession as Yuto Nagatomo blocked Higuain’s close-range volley, before Samir Handanovic tipped Jorginho’s effort around the post.
Inter went straight down the other end and almost broke the deadlock themselves, but Palacio could only head across the face of goal after beating Reina to a Nagatomo’s cross.
