Milan 1 Napoli 1

AC Milan failed to take full advantage of Inter Milan's draw against Palermo last night as they were held to a draw at home to Napoli and missed the opportunity to leapfrog their city rivals to the top of the Serie A table.

Hugo Campagnaro put a lively Napoli ahead in the 13th minute, but Filippo Inzaghi equalised 12 minutes later.

Napoli enjoyed the better of the first half while Milan improved in the second 45 minutes, but neither side did enough to deserve more than a point, which takes the Rossoneri back to within a single point of Inter.

Inter Milan's draw at Palermo last night meant Milan had the chance to move to the top of the table with a win, but Napoli had other ideas.

They started the brighter and deservedly went ahead in the 13th minute.

Lavezzi drew everybody to the near post where Christian Abbiati and Massimo Oddo got in each other's way and ended up in a heap as the Argentinian forward pulled the ball back to his compatriot Campagnaro, who side-footed the it into the completely empty goal.

Napoli were showing no fear at all with Lavezzi and Fabio Quagliarella combining well.

A second goal seemed more likely than an equaliser, but when you have Ronaldinho on the field, anything can happen.

And the Brazilian weaved his magic in the 25th minute, lifting a cross to Inzaghi, who was glued in his usual position underneath the crossbar to head in the equaliser.

Napoli did not lose belief, though, and both Lavezzi and Quagliarella had chances to restore their advantage before Leandro Rinaudo's header needed a goalline clearance from Andrea Pirlo to prevent the Rossoneri from going in at the interval behind.

Quagliarella fired a volley straight against Abbiati midway through the second half as the visitors continued to set the tone.

However, Amantino Mancini should have put the home side ahead moments later when he was sent through on goal by Clarence Seedorf, but the former Inter forward shot straight at Morgan De Sanctis.

As the clock ticked down, Milan finally began to show the urgency of a side who scented the chance of moving to the top of the league.

The crowd tried to play their part too while Milan coach Leonardo sent Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on as a fourth striker in place of Seedorf.

But they were still unable to find a way through while Napoli regularly threatened to hit them on the counterattack, finding plenty of room as Milan committed men forward.

In the end, though, a draw was the fair result, even if it means Milan remain second while Napoli join Genoa in seventh place.

AC Milan	Napoli
12 Christian Abbiati	26 Morgan De Sanctis
19 Giuseppe Favalli	77 Leandro Rinaudo
33 Thiaguinho	28 Paolo Cannavaro
15 Gianluca Zambrotta	14 Hugo Armando Campagnaro
44 Massimo Oddo	2 Gianluca Grava
21 Andrea Pirlo	23 Walter Gargano
16 Mathieu Flamini	5 Michele Pazienza
9 Filippo Inzaghi	7 Ezequiel Lavezzi
10 Clarence Seedorf	17 Marek Hamsik
80 Ronaldinho	27 Fabio Quagliarella
7 Pato	11 Cristian Maggio

Roma 0 Milan 0 - Seri A Video Highlights

Roma: Julio Sergio, Juan, Burdisso, Riise, Cassetti, Pizarro, De Rossi, Vucinic, Perotta, Baptista (Toni 58'), Taddei.

Milan: Abbiati, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Antonini (Abate 71'), Bonera, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Flamini (Beckham 72'), Ronaldinho, Boriello (Inzaghi 78'), Huntelaar.


AC Milan dominated but had to settle for a point against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

In a battle of two teams who still have scudetto aspirations, the Rossoneri had numerous opportunities to break the deadlock but failed to take any of them.

The result left Milan in second place - three points behind Serie A leaders and city rivals Inter, who will take on Genoa with a chance to extend their gap at the summit to six points. Roma remained third, two points behind Milan.

A fine Milan can't get more than a 0-0 draw in Rome. Leonardo's team plays the whole match with great conviction, showing especially in the second half a great physical shape, which brings the Rossoneri to be dangerous more than once in the opposition's penalty area. With great authority and ball possession Milan once again showed they have what it takes to play a match of very high level in Manchester.

The Saturday evening match of the 27th matchday starts with an offensive Milan team designed by its coach with a trident formed by Ronaldinho, Borriello and Huntelaar. Ranieri on his part left out Toni and included Julio Baptista behind Vucinic.
After just three minutes Roma created the first chance of the evening. De Rossi fired a shot from the edge of the area which went just past Abbiati's post. After the first chances for the home side the match became more balanced, and in the Rossoneri's midfield there emerged a great, dynamic Flamini, who did well to amplify the play while Pirlo did well to block the reference points. In the 23rd minute came the first chance for Milan through Antonini who sent his shot over the crossbar.

Also the strikers tried but first Borriello in the 29th minute and then Huntelaar failed to be effective in the penalty area. The growth of the Rossoneri team was more evident in the second half. The first 15 minutes of the second half saw an attacking Milan. Borriello managed to make himself dangerous, going past Juan but his shot was stopped by the goalkeeper. At this point Ranieri modified his team by sending on Luca Toni. With his characteristics the striker kept the ball up allowing his team mates to take breathers.

Leonardo's answer didn't take long. The Brazilian sent on Beckham and Abate, reinforcing the right wing. The Englishman played two splendid assists for Huntelaar and Ronaldinho, but they both couldn't take advantage. Near the end also Roma made themselves dangerous especially when they tried to find Toni through the area.

It finished 0-0, a draw that slows down the run-up to Inter but which showed a team in great athletic shape and always very convinced of its potential. In Manchester there's still all to play for.

Milan 3 Atalanta 1,PATO PATO BORRIELLO

Milan: Abbiati; Bonera, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini (Gattuso 66); Pato (Abate 80), Borriello (Huntelaar 74), Ronaldinho

Atalanta: Consigli; Garics, Bianco, Manfredini, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto (Ceravolo 42), De Ascentis (Volpi 67), Padoin, Valdes; Doni; Tiribocchi (Chevanton 76

An injury to Pato took the gloss off AC Milan's 3-1 victory over Atalanta with the Brazilian striker now facing an anxious race against time to be fit for the Champions League return leg against Manchester United.

Pato scores the first of his two goals but a thigh injury took the gloss off Milan's win over Atalanta

The forward produced a neat turn and finish on the half hour before converting Ronaldinho's pass 11 minutes later. Jaime Valdes netted for the visitors after the interval but Marco Borriello was quick to restore Milan's two-goal advantage after Ronaldinho's penalty was saved.

"We will have to wait 24 to 48 hours before knowing the extent of the injury,'' said Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani after the game. Milan must overturn a 3-2 deficit if they are to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"Not to have Pato would be terrible,'' said Galliani. "We don't have anyone who can replace him. Without him, we would need to change our tactical set-up.''

Fiorentina 1- Milan 2, Bravo Pato,Bravo Huntelaar,Bravo Dinho

Fiorentina: Frey; De Silvestri, Kroldrup, Natali (Gobbi 46), Felipe; Montolivo, Donadel, Vargas; Marchionni, Jovetic (Zanetti 59); Gilardino (Keirrison 62)

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Bonera (Jankulovski 65); Gattuso (Huntelaar 76), Pirlo, Ambrosini (Flamini 32); Pato, Borriello, Ronaldinho

Alexandre Pato struck deep in stoppage time as AC Milan came from behind to snatch victory at Fiorentina on Wednesday.

The outcome has lifted the Rossoneri above Roma into second in Serie A and reduced the gap with league leaders Inter Milan to four points.

Former AC Milan striker Alberto Gilardino opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Klass Jan Huntelaar came off the bench to restore parity with nine minutes remaining.

AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati kept his team in the game with two great saves before Pato silenced the fans at the Artemio Franchi stadium seconds from time.

England midfielder David Beckham dropped to the bench for the second league game in a row as Leonardo opted to field the same starting XI that won 2-0 at Bari on Sunday.

The visitors struggled in the opening half but showed plenty of determination to turn around the result in the last ten minutes of the game.

The Rossoneri should have broken the deadlock early on but Andrea Pirlo's goal-bound strike was deflected by Riccardo Montolivo for a corner. At the other end, Gilardino latched onto Juan Vargas' cross but his central header did not trouble Abbiati.

The hosts broke the deadlock shortly after as Milan's defence failed to clear Stevan Jovetic's pass towards the area, leaving Gilardino with an easy tap-in.

The visitors reacted and Frey was forced to punch away Ronaldinho's curled free-kick. Midway through the first half, though, Montolivo's right-footed strike from 25 yards forced Abbiati to fully stretch to clear.

Leonardo was forced to make his first substitution with Mathieu Flamini replacing injured captain Massimo Ambrosini.

Flamini almost levelled the scores before the break with his right-footed strike from the edge of the area going inches wide of the far post.

Milan picked up where they left off after the re-start and Pato almost scored shortly after. The Brazilian surged inside the area before firing just wide of the far post.

At the other end, Vargas' bullet strike from the distance was met by a fine save from Abbiati.

With 15 minutes remaining, Leonardo brought in Huntelaar in place of Gattuso and it proved to be the right move because the substitute equalised five minutes later as Huntelaar played a one-two with Ronaldinho before firing from the heart of the area past Frey.

Milan's joy could have shortlived had Abbiati not made an acrobatic clearance to palm over the bar Vargas' stinging drive from 25 yards.

The visitors continued to push forward and their efforts were rewarded with seconds remaining when Ronaldinho's cross found Pato inside the area and his right-footed strike towards the centre of the goal beat Frey .

Milan host Atalanta on Sunday while Fiorentina travel to Rome on Saturday to take on Lazio.

Barii 0 Milan 2 , Rossoneri cut gap on Inter

Bari: Gillet; Belmonte, A Masiello, Bonucci, S Masiello, Alvarez, Gazzi, Donati, Rivas (Almiron 61') Meggiorini (Sforzini 34'), Barreto

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Bonera (Jankulovski 68'), Gattuso (Beckham 81'), Pirlo, Ambrosini, , Ronaldinho, Pato, Borriello (Inzaghi 72')


Marco Borriello fired AC Milan to a comfortable win at Bari to see the Rossoneri close the gap on league leaders Inter to seven points.

The striker returned to action after missing two games through injury and opened the scoring before half-time.

Alexandre Pato doubled his team's lead in the 69th minute but then conceded a penalty with two minutes remaining after bringing down Salvatore Masiello.

Bari failed to capitalise as Paulo Barreto's spot-kick was met by a fine save from Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

The win was Milan's first on the road since January 10 and left them third in the standings, two points behind second-place Roma with a game in hand.

Roma had earlier prevailed 1-0 over Catania while Inter were held to a goalless draw by Sampdoria yesterday.

Milan went into the encounter looking to bounce back from their 3-2 home reverse to Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday.

The hosts had hoped to avoid their third-straight defeat but really did not pose much of a threat to the Rossoneri.

Milan dominated the opening stages and had the first chance to take the lead in the 13th minute.

Massimo Ambrosini's left-footed strike from the edge of the area went just wide of Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet's far post.

Shortly after, Pato's central free-kick failed to trouble the keeper.

Bari struggled to break Milan's well-placed defence and the visitors continued to control the game.

On the half-hour mark, Borriello should have broken the deadlock but his powerful header from Daniele Bonera's cross went wide.

But Milan's efforts paid off in the 43rd minute.

Ronaldinho fed Borriello and his left-footed volley from the heart of the area towards the far post beat Gillet.

Bari had the first opportunity shortly after the re-start.

Emmanuel Rivas found Massimo Donati inside the area and his right-footed shot went just wide of Abbiati's far post.

Shortly after the hour mark, Barreto's bullet strike forced Abbiati to palm over the bar for a corner and

it wasn't long before Milan extended their lead.

Gillet parried away Ronaldinho's angled effort but only as far as Pato and the Brazilian made no mistake from close range.

Bari twice had the chance to reduce the arrears but Ferdinando Sforzini nodded wide from the centre of the penalty area before Donati's header from Massiello's cross went inches wide of the far post.

With nine minutes remaining, David Beckham replaced Gennaro Gattuso as Milan looked to finish on a high note.

But it was the hosts that had a chance to re-open the game late on after the referee pointed to the penalty spot when Masiello drew contact from Pato.

Abbiati guessed right as Barreto hit the ball right-footed down the middle of the goal as the keeper came up with the save to preserve the 2-0 win.

Leonardo's Milan will play Fiorentina on Wednesday and a win would lift them over Roma into second place.

Milan 2- Manchester United 3, Champions League Februari 16, 2010

Milan: Dida; Bonera, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Pato, Huntelaar, Ronaldinho

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Park; Rooney

Ronaldinho (3') Paul Scholes (36')
Clarence Seedorf (85') Wayne Rooney (66')
Wayne Rooney (74')

David Beckham had to settle for second best as the team he loves overcame the team he plays for in the San Siro.

Two second-half goals from the new Manchester United hero, Wayne Rooney, installs last season's beaten finalists as favourites to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Not even the concession of a third-minute opener for AC Milan, created by Beckham for Ronaldinho, could derail Sir Alex Ferguson's troops, although they were forced to endure some nervy moments at the end after Clarence Seedorf hauled Milan back into the tie five minutes from time.

It took a fortunate Paul Scholes effort to bring United level before the break.

But after surviving another spell of Milan pressure after half-time, Rooney stamped his class on the contest, scoring his first two European goals of the season to take his overall tally to 25.

In United circles, the summer of 2003 has become famous for Beckham's exit from Old Trafford.

Yet about a month after his move to Real Madrid was confirmed, there was an equally significant event involving Ronaldinho.

Ferguson was sure he had signed the Brazilian from Paris St Germain, convinced in his own mind every eventuality had been covered.

It was with some annoyance - mostly directed at former chief executive Peter Kenyon - Ferguson learned Ronaldinho had in fact signed for Barcelona.

As the alternative turned out to be Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps the situation did not turn out too badly for the Red Devils.

But if Beckham had waited seven years to face his old club, United and Ronaldinho were hanging round for equally as long before their paths have crossed.

It took the former world footballer of the year just three minutes to remind Ferguson what he missed, after Beckham had done what everyone knows he can, produce excellent set pieces.

Patrice Evra's acrobatic attempt to clear that one set Ronaldinho up, although Edwin van der Sar had the shot covered before it deflected off Michael Carrick and ended up in the opposite corner.

For an old team, Milan clearly had something left.

Their passing had United twisting and turning, looking for all the world like a team on the edge of a very big cliff, not knowing precisely where the bottom was.

Ronaldinho, Luca Antonini and Klaas Jan Huntelaar twice came agonisingly close to finding Van der Sar's net again. If a couple of them had gone in, Ferguson could not have complained.

As it was, apart from Beckham, the only other 'Class of 92' graduate on the pitch was about to make a decisive contribution.

Scholes has peppered the intervening years with a number of howitzers, goals that will be admired decades from now.

This was not among them. Swinging at Darren Fletcher's low cross from the by-line, Scholes missed the ball completely with his right foot, the ball striking him half way up the shin of his standing left.

What could only be described as a freakish deflection not only took it the six yards to Dida's goal, but right in the bottom corner, giving the Brazilian no chance of keeping it out.

Milan's response was admirable, given what a shattering blow that away goal was, United's first in five away games against a fellow European heavyweight.

Andrea Pirlo forced a one-handed save out of Van der Sar with a 30-yard free-kick, then the 39-year-old Dutchman required every inch of his massive frame to flick a goalbound Ronaldinho effort round the post.

Yet in that one stroke of good fortune for Scholes, it seemed the destiny of the tie had been shaped and a minute after what turned out to be an inspired substitution, Rooney break his European duck.

Antonio Valencia, who had just replaced Nani, was the provider, sending over a cross from the right that allowed Rooney to steer a header back over Dida into the opposite corner.

Now the age in Milan's legs began to tell. And when Darren Fletcher chipped another cross into the box, Rooney stole between defenders to head home once more.

It seemed victory and progress was assured, so Ferguson will be livid at the Seedorf effort five minutes from time that ensured an uncomfortable ending and gives Milan a flicker of hope for the return in three weeks' time, when Michael Carrick will be unavailable following his dismissal deep into stoppage time.

Milan 3 Udinese 2, Bravo Huntelaar

AC MILAN VS UDINESE VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
BRAVO DINHO & HUNTELAAR


Goal : Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (7) Pato (39) Antonio Floro Flores (45) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (57) Antonio Di Natale (86)


Ronaldinho inspired AC Milan to victory over Udinese on Friday night, warming them up for the visit of Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday with three more points in Serie A.

Although the Brazilian did not put his own name on the scoresheet, he set up all three goals as Milan regained second spot in the table.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the first after seven minutes and substitute Alexandre Pato added the second five minutes before the break.

Antonio Floro Flores gave Udinese hope with a goal on the stroke of half-time before Huntelaar's second in the 57th minute restored the home side's two-goal advantage.

Antonio Di Natale pulled Udinese back into the game in the 86th minute, but they could not find an equaliser.

Milan coach Leonardo left David Beckham on the bench for the second game running, but Alessandro Nesta was back at the heart of the defence after a three-week injury absence.

And it wasn't long before Pato entered the field too with Amantino Mancini forced off injured after just 13 minutes.

By then, Milan were ahead with a bullet header from Huntelaar, who met Ronaldinho's cross at the near post in the seventh minute.

Dida was nearly caught out by Gokhan Inler's shot which he initially fumbled before clasping. Not for the first time, and not for the last either, the Milan goalkeeper did not look too comfortable.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was watching on from the stands, will certainly have taken note.

He will also have been given a lot to ponder by Ronaldinho, who was pulling the strings in the Milan attack, setting up Pato in the 24th minute, but the linesman's offside flag was raised before the Milan striker eventually rolled the ball in.

A poor clearance from Dida gave Di Natale a gift in the 27th minute, but the Udinese striker and Serie A top goalscorer failed to take advantage as the Milan defence recovered.

There was no offside flag when another sumptuous delivery from Ronaldinho, straight into the path of Pato, set up the second goal in the 39th minute.

Udinese defender Andrea Coda succeeded partly in putting the Milan number seven off as he prepared to pull the trigger, but the ball fell kindly for Pato, who was left with a simple tap-in.

However, the Rossoneri continued to look susceptible at the back and Floro Flores headed Di Natale's cross in with the final touch of the first half.

The actual last touch of the half was Dida's as he carried the ball into his goal rather than making what should not have been too difficult a save.

Fortunately for Milan, they had Ronaldinho, who was the source of their third goal in the 57th minute.

His free-kick was met with an unintentional flick by Massimo Ambrosini and Huntelaar was on hand to fire in his second and Milan's third from close range.

Gennaro Gattuso missed the chance to wrap the game up in the 75th minute when Ronaldinho's vision and pass execution picked him out in acres of space, but Samir Handanovic blocked his shot behind for a corner.

From the corner kick, Ronaldinho's header was cleared off the line by Simone Pepe before he made way for Beckham.

Di Natale's honesty in not going down denied his side a penalty when he nudged the ball round Dida with 10 minutes remaining, but the Udinese striker was rewarded with a goal his performance deserved in the 86th minute when he beat the offside trap before beating Dida with an elegant shot.