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Alberto Gilardino cancelled out a stunning Philippe Mexes opener as Roma and Milan stalled each others' progress in a 1-1 draw.
These two teams met for the fourth time this season after two Giallorossi victories and a draw between Serie A and the Coppa Italia. It was a head to head battle for a Champions League spot and the Rossoneri fielded their Brazilian front three while welcoming back Alessandro Nesta from a four-month break with a shoulder injury. Daniele Bonera was suspended and Max Tonetto injured.
It was a blistering start at the Stadio Olimpico. Nelson Dida tipped a Francesco Totti header over and from the resulting corner Philippe Mexes smashed an unstoppable strike under the crossbar from the edge of the area. It was a fine way to celebrate his 25th birthday, which was on Friday.
Milan almost netted an equaliser after eight minutes, as Dario Simic nodded an Andrea Pirlo free kick inches past the upright. De Rossi's lob was over and Nesta performed a crucial tackle on Cristian Wilhelmsson inside the area.
Mexes almost handed Milan an equaliser, as he slipped on his own from 10 yards and Ricardo Oliveira failed to take advantage, hesitating and seeing his shot charged down.
An ambitious long-range Christian Panucci strike was smothered and another quickly-taken free kick from Francesco Totti stung Dida's palms. Mexes had an attempt deflected wide, as Roma's rapidity in taking set-pieces was causing real problems.
Amantino Mancini spun round between two defenders and unleashed a snapshot just over the bar, while Oliveira drilled a right-foot angled drive inches past the far post.
Ronaldo sprinted into the box and his strike was deflected over the bar by Panucci. A Nesta looping header did not have enough power to trouble Alexander Doni.
Milan threw on Alberto Gilardino for the disappointing Oliveira after the break and the substitute was halted for an offside position following fine build-up from Ronaldo's backheel and Kaka.
Mancini and Totti combined dangerously, then David Pizarro rolled past the near post. There was chaos on 58 minutes, as Dida spilled the ball off Wilhelmsson and only a Cafu deflection stopped Totti turning into an empty net.
Kaka skipped past Marco Cassetti and stroked his inside right shot over the bar.
The Rossoneri finally snatched an equaliser on the hour mark. Cassetti was booked for bringing down Ronaldo and the Pirlo free kick took a flick off Gilardino's head to slot into the far corner despite being held.
Another great Gila opportunity was cut short by the offside flag, so Roma introduced Simone Perrotta to shore up the midfield.
Doni came rushing out to clear from Ronaldo and caught a Marcos Cafu weak counter, but at the other end Totti's stunning pass sent Perrotta through only for the substitute to fire over on the bounce.
Moments later Mancini out-sprinted Cafu and some desperate defending prevented Taddei getting on the end of his cross. Totti's lobbed pass found Panucci totally umarked from six yards except for a Simic deflection to take it off his head. The move continued and Perrotta struck Dida from point-blank range.
Dida smothered a Cassetti strike from distance, so Gennaro Gattuso replaced Ronaldo to strengthen the midfield.
Milan really should have been 2-1 up 10 minutes from time. Kaka launched himself on the counter-attack and rolled across for Gilardino but, with only the goalkeeper to beat from eight yards, he somehow sidefooted it wide!
Yoann Gourcuff attempted to catch Doni out from 25 metres, but neither side was able to get the full points.
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