| Ronaldo, Alberto Gilardino and Giuseppe Favalli gave Milan a 3-1 win that lets them leapfrog Empoli in the race for fourth. Few would've thought it at the start of the season, but this was a head-to-head play-off for a Champions League place. Empoli were one point in front of their illustrious opponents and could count on Rossoneri youth product Nicola Pozzi. Milan were torn between this fixture and the upcoming Euro quarter-final with Bayern Munich.
Ronaldo wasted an excellent opportunity after 120 seconds, as he ran forward on the counter-attack and turned round Daniele Balli, but lost his footing in front of an open goal and the ball ran away from him. Yoann Gourcuff got a rare start and had his effort deflected out for a corner, but it was Il Fenomeno who opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Andrea Raggi's slip on a Kaka pass let Ronaldo through and he put two stepovers on Francesco Pratali to fire a left-foot finish under the bar. There was bad news, though, as Gennaro Gattuso bruised his ribs and needed heavy strapping to continue. Kaka threaded through for Gourcuff and another chance was charged down by the Empoli defence. Alberto Gilardino did nothing to stop a section of the fans jeering him, as he skipped past Pratali on Ronaldo's pass and thumped the upright with only the goalkeeper to beat. Nicola Pozzi went very close to an equaliser, as he sprung the offside trap on Vittorio Tosto's pass 30 metres up the field and fired just wide. Moments later Ronaldo rolled across for Gourcuff, but the Frenchman tried something between a pass to Gilardino and a shot, achieving neither. Kaka combined with Ronaldo to hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed for offside, as all Milan's attacks seemed to come down the left flank. Both Gilardino and Kaka failed to turn in Andrea Pirlo's free kick. Kaka created an excellent opportunity on 37 minutes with one of his trademark surges and disguised pass to Giuseppe Favalli, but the cutback was a little short and the defence was able to clear. As has often happened this season, Milan wasted far too many chances and were made to pay, as Empoli equalised before the break. Ighli Vannucchi surprisingly cut his free kick back to the edge of the area for a stunning Luca Saudati volley. Still smarting from a similar problem against Bayern Munich, Milan hit right back in the space of 10 seconds. Ronaldo intelligently chipped up the ball for Gilardino to chest it down and volley from six yards. Balli got hold of it, but could not keep the shot out. Dario Simic replaced the not 100 per cent fit Kakha Kaladze. Ronaldo was enjoying his new role as a provider, his fine assist finding Gourcuff clear at the edge of the area, but the strike was off target. Kaka went on one of his trademark surging runs past four Empoli players, but Balli intercepted the cutback for Gilardino. From the resulting corner, Ronaldo volleyed wide of the near post with his left foot. Gilardino had another fine chance on the counter-attack, but both the pass to Ronaldo and the shot were charged down by the one defender who stuck with him. Empoli also wasted an opportunity to equalise soon after. Sergio Almiron burst through the centre of a static defence and only a desperate Marcos Cafu interception put him under enough pressure to balloon over. Kaka was rested for the final 15 minutes and replaced by Marek Jankulovski, switching Gourcuff to the right. Moments later Milan made it 3-1. Pirlo combined beautifully with Favalli and the former Lazio veteran side-footed in with his right at the near post from eight yards. San Siro gave a standing ovation to Serginho, who returned after a career-threatening groin injury that kept him out for six months.'Concorde' was visibly moved at the welcome. Balli beat away a Pirlo free kick and stuck out an arm to parry Gilardino's half-volley at the near post. | 
