| Dida made his Serie A comeback after two months out injured with some decisive saves, but Milan could only draw 0-0 at Lazio with Alberto Gilardino stretchered off. The lead-up to this match was fraught with tension, as Massimo Oddo was banished to the stands for demanding a January transfer to Milan, so Valon Behrami played right-back. The Rossoneri were also anxiously awaiting news from Ronaldo in Madrid, so the sides had been focusing on everything except football this week.
Lazio had not beaten Milan here in Serie A since February 1998, but the visitors had Zeljko Kalac out injured and Dida still working his way back to full fitness following a two-month lay-off for a knee problem.
Behrami drilled over and Cristian Brocchi's effort from a Clarence Seedorf cross was charged down. Tommaso Rocchi fought his way past two defenders on the edge of the area and his precise low drive was blocked on the line by an attentive Dida. Milan wasted a great chance when Marek Jankulovski's cross was flicked on for Gennaro Gattuso's diving header that whistled well wide of the target from a promising position. Cristian Ledesma caught a loose ball from 20 metres and smashed his shot across the face of goal with Dida watching it go by the far upright. Stefano Mauri nodded a free kick over from six yards, but he had pushed Daniele Bonera. Kaka looked as if he was set to pass to either Marcos Cafu or Gilardino, but instead flashed his shot towards the back post. Goran Pandev gathered the ball with his back to goal, spun round Bonera and saw his rising shot towards the top near corner deflected over the bar. Lazio's pressure was growing and a well-worked move on 41 minutes saw Massimo Mutarelli's final shot charged down at the last moment. They went even closer moments later, as Rocchi found space down the left flank and his precise angled drive was met by a brilliant Dida save. The goalkeeper was at full stretch to fingertip it round the far post. Angelo Peruzzi was struggling with stomach ache and made way for Marco Ballotta at half-time. He is the oldest ever player in Serie A history at 42 years and eight months, but was alert to smother a Gilardino volley after combining passes with Kaka. Mutarelli flicked the ball over the defence for Pandev to spring the offside trap, but although the Lazio man got to the sphere first, his chip was over the bar under pressure from the on-rushing Dida. Ballotta's palms were stung by a Kaka snapshot from distance, eventually controlling it at the second attempt. The Brazilian blasted another effort over from distance, though Dida was also tested by Mauri's sudden strike. Brocchi found space to unleash a fierce but central drive that Ballotta smothered, as both sides seemed to mainly become dangerous from distance. However, seconds later Cribari performed a fantastic sliding tackle on Seedorf as he ran into the area with only Ballotta to beat. From the resulting corner another challenge blocked Seedorf from eight yards as Gilardino spun the ball back towards the Dutchman. There were worrying scenes when Behrami stamped on Gilardino's calf and ankle, a shocking leg-breaker tackle that could well have caused a serious injury. It was a red card offence, yet the referee incredibly gave a free kick in Behrami's favour. The Milan striker was stretchered off screaming, although after treatment he was able to hop away with an ice-pack strapped to his leg. Pippo Inzaghi and Massimo Ambrosini came on, the midfielder nodding just over from a corner kick. At the other end, a poor clearance reached Mauri and Dida didn't deal with the ferocious effort very well, pushing it out for a corner when his catch slipped. | 
