Pazzini winner keeps his side in touch with leaders AC Milan

ROME: Inter Milan kept up their title challenge with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Fiorentina on Wednesday.

An own goal from Michele Camporese gave the champions the lead before Manuel Pasquale’s cross trickled over the line to restore parity.

But Giampaolo Pazzini struck the winner from close range to keep Leonardo’s team in the scudetto hunt.

The victory moved them up to third in Serie A, five points behind leaders and city rivals AC Milan, and it was the perfect response after the criticism directed at the team in the Italian press after Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Juventus.

This was Inter’s eighth win in 10 league games under the Brazilian coach, who joined in late December.

Leonardo shouted himself hoarse during the game and consequently sent his assistant, Giuseppe Baresi, to speak to the media afterwards.

“After the defeat in Turin this game was more important than ever,” admitted Baresi.

“It’s never easy to win in Florence but we showed we’re in good form.

“It’s an important win, it was vital to get the three points tonight. The team really wanted it after the Juve defeat.”

Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, the former Inter assistant, said the visitors were simply too clinical.

“Fortunately we don’t play against Inter every Sunday. If we’d played someone else we’d have won,” he said.

“But we didn’t deserve to lose, we created a lot of chances whereas they had two chances and scored two goals.

“But when you play the big teams you only need to make one mistake and you pay dearly.”

Inter went ahead after six minutes when Maicon’s cross was diverted into his own net by Michele Camporese but mid-table Fiorentina levelled on 33 minutes when Manuel Pasqual’s ball into the box crept in at the far post without being touched.

Leonardo handed a first start to Japanese left back Yuto Nagatomo and had Dejan Stankovic fit again after injury but Inter still laboured until Pazzini turned in Samuel Eto’o’s low cross 17 minutes into the second half.

The Inter game was rearranged because of their involvement in December’s Club World Cup.

Genoa also beat city rivals and fellow mid-table side Sampdoria 1-0 on Wednesday in a game which had been postponed because of snow in December.

Brazilian Rafinha grabbed the goal 10 minutes into the second half in one of Serie A’s most colourful and heated derbies.

  

Inter’s Milito out for six weeks after straining hamstring

ROME: Inter Milan’s Argentinian striker Diego Milito will be out of action for six weeks after straining a hamstring, his fifth injury-enforced absence of the season, the Italian club announced.

Milito sustained the injury in his side’s 5-3 Serie A win over AS Roma on the weekend, when he was replaced in the 70th minute.

Inter now face the prospect of a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on March 15 with only two available strikers, Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev, as newly-signed forward Giampaolo Pazzini is not eligible. Inter coach Leonardo nevertheless had some comforting words for Milito.

“Diego mustn’t worry about what has happened. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone; he knows how important he is for Inter. All he has to do is relax and concentrate on making a good recovery,” Leonardo said.

Last season Milito, 31, scored a goal that sealed the Italian league on the last day of the season and netted both goals as Inter beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. 

  

Inter thump Roma to close in on leaders Milan

ROME: Inter Milan thumped 10-man Roma 5-3 and Napoli beat Cesena 2-0 as both sides closed in on Serie A leaders AC Milan, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Genoa on Sunday.

Napoli trail Milan by just three points while Inter are five points back but with a game in hand.

Samuel Eto’o took his tally this season to 27 goals with a brace while Wesley Sneijder, on his first start since December, Thiago Motta and Esteban Cambiasso added the other strikes for the champions.

Brazilian midfielder Simplicio, Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic and substitute centre-back Simone Loria replied for Roma.

Inter coach Leonardo said the title fight would go all the way.

“All the teams are very close, it will be like this to the end,” he said.

“It’s not easy, every game is difficult to win for everyone ahead, you saw that today with some surprise results. But we’re progressing.”

Although 10 points behind Milan, with a game in hand, Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said they would keep going.

“We couldn’t have done more than what we did with 10 men against this Inter,” he said.

“It’s not easy to come back but that’s our position, as long as we can see light we must keep going.”

Napoli bounced back from their midweek defeat at Chievo with goals from Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani and Jose Sosa.

Cavani finished off good work from Christian Maggio on 13 minutes with a left-footed finish from close range to score his 18th league goal of the season.

And in stoppage time, Sosa shot home after a cross from Giuseppe Mascara. 

  

Milan coach insists that Pato will regain his form

ROME: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted on Saturday that young striker Pato will come good despite struggling for form recently.

Pato lost his place in the Milan side to new signing Antonio Cassano last week before regaining his place in midweek, only to be substituted for Cassano in the second half.

Some in the Italian press claim he’s lost his way and can’t play with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Allegri puts his troubles down to injuries.

“If it wasn’t for an injury to (centre-back Daniele) Bonera I wouldn’t have taken Pato off,” he said.

“Recently one or two substitutions have been forced by injuries. He’s well, there’s no Pato issue.

“He’s young and has amazing talent. He has a lot to learn as everyone does but he should stay calm because he’s scored eight league goals and two in the cup despite not playing much.

“He needs to concentrate and focus. The more they play together the more Pato and Ibra will click.

“They’ve not played much together so far and last year Pato played in a different position.

“I’m happy to have Pato and I want to keep him and I believe like the others who have been injured, he will prove a great signing for Milan.”

League leaders Milan saw their lead over champions Inter Milan cut to just seven points in midweek while the nerazzurri also have a game in hand.

It increased the feeling across much of Italy that Leonardo’s team are most likely to be Milan’s closest challengers but Allegri insists he is not worried about Inter.

“We don’t need to think about Inter, we’re in the lead, our destiny is in our own hands,” he said. 

 

Napoli take advantage of AC Milan’s stumble

MILAN: Serie A leaders AC Milan slipped up for the second straight game in a 1-1 draw at Genoa yesterday which opened the door for Napoli to cut the gap at the top to three points.

Napoli failed to take advantage when Milan drew 0-0 with Lazio in midweek when they lost at Chievo but red-hot striker Edinson Cavani helped make sure they did this time in a 2-0 home victory over lowly Cesena.

The Uruguayan, Serie A’s top scorer with 18 goals, converted Christian Maggio’s cross in the first half against second from bottom Cesena before Jose Sosa netted in stoppage time.

Champions Inter Milan, in fourth, hosted last term’s runners-up AS Roma later yesterday and can move within five points of Milan if they win while also having another game in hand.

Milan’s Alexandre Pato, preferred to Antonio Cassano upfront, latched on to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pass to give the visitors a 29th-minute lead but Genoa forward Antonio Floro Flores struck home a loose ball just before the break.

Milan’s midfield was almost back to full strength after injuries and suspension but the hosts defended stoutly and deserved their point, with Rossoneri fans now fretting that a first scudetto since 2004 does not look as clear–cut as before.

Tensions were high at the Marassi given the game was the first time since the death of a supporter 16 years ago in crowd trouble that Milan fans had been allowed to the encounter.

Scuffles between fans were reported but nothing major.

Third-placed Lazio missed the chance to pressure Milan themselves with a 1-1 home draw with Chievo.

Hernanes put the Romans in front with a ferocious freekick deep into first-half stoppage time but Cesar equalised midway through the second period.

Palermo lie just two points behind Lazio in fifth following a thrilling 4-2 win at struggling Lecce.

Previously struggling on-loan Juventus forward Amauri superbly netted his first Parma goal in a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina, who had Adrian Mutu back for the first time since being banished for quitting training last month.

Third-from-bottom Brescia won the relegation battle with basement side Bari, Alessandro Diamanti netting a penalty and Andrea Caracciolo with an injury-time strike in a 2-0 victory which puts eight points between the two sides.

Bologna beat Catania 1-0 in an early game to send the Sicilians closer to the drop zone with new coach Diego Simeone failing to stop the slide.

Juventus ended their bad run with a 3-1 victory at Cagliari on Saturday when Alessandro Matri scored twice against his former club while Udinese continued their ascent with a 2-0 win over toothless Sampdoria. 

 

Juventus beats Cagliari 3-1 in Serie A

ROME (AP): Alessandro Matri scored twice as Juventus beat Cagliari 3-1 in the Serie A on Saturday, less than a week since the striker left the Sardinian club on the final day of the transfer window.

Matri struck in each half to help Luigi Del Neri's team end a run of three consecutive losses. In between Matri's goals, Robert Acquafresca equalised for Cagliari.

Under pressure, Juventus striker Luca Toni headed powerfully from the edge of the area to seal the victory with four minutes remaining.

"He's a good player," Toni said of Matri. "He's a great buy and will be important for the future of Juventus. During these tough times we've stayed united as a squad and got on with our work taking it game by game."

Matri squandered an early chance to score when Cagliari 'keeper Michael Agazzi raced off his line to block the shot after Claudio Marchisio put him through on goal. Agazzi then tipped Alberto Aquilani's volley away for a corner.

Matri scored the opener when Milos Krasic played him in behind Cagliari's defense and he hit a low drive past Agazzi. Radja Nainggolan wasted a chance to pull the hosts level. He failed to reach the ball with the goal at his mercy after Gianluigi Buffon missed Andrea Cossu's free kick.

In the second half Cossu set up Cagliari's equalizer. He picked out Acquafresca at the far post and the striker volleyed it past Buffon. Cossu nearly created a second five minutes later, but Daniele Conti volleyed his free kick wide from close range.

Matri punished his former teammates for such profligacy when he hit a volley past Agazzi from a cross by Giorgio Chiellini. Toni then completed the scoring, when he guided Alessandro Del Piero's cross past Agazzi for his 100th goal in the Serie A.

"This goal means a lot of things to me," Toni said. "Lots of people say I am finished, but here I am and I have a large desire to carry on and keep scoring goals for a club like Juventus."

Also, Antonio Di Natale scored his 100th Serie A goal for Udinese in its 2-0 win over Sampdoria. "I've been waiting for it for two weeks," Di Natale said. "I'm happy for myself and the team because it was a difficult game. I came to Udinese when I was young and I would like to remain here."

The Italy international scored Udinese's second just before halftime, after Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring in the 18th.

  

Nagatomo realising a dream at Inter

ROME: Inter Milan’s new Japanese signing Yuto Nagatomo said he was realising a dream as he was officially unveiled by his new club on Friday.

The 24-year-old made a transfer deadline day move on Monday from Cesena with young Inter full-back Davide Santon heading the other way on loan.

And Nagatomo showed an acute sense of how to endear himself to his new fans at his first Inter press conference.

“Hello everyone, it was a dream to play for Inter and now it has been realised,” he said. “I will give my all to help the team, we have to win and I want to win the derby.”

With Inter left-back Cristian Chivu suspended for four games after punching an opponent on Thursday against Bari, Nagatomo could even make his debut today at home to Roma. 

  

Inter, Roma meet in crucial game to stay alive in hunt for title

ROME: Champions Inter Milan and Roma face a crucial clash at the San Siro this weekend as both sides try to stay in the scudetto hunt.

Inter pipped Roma to the title by two points last year as they finished as the top two for the fourth time in five years – with Inter winning the championship every time.

But this time around both have been left lagging in leaders AC Milan’s wake and defeat in tomorrow’s game could prove terminal for either side’s trophy hopes.

With just 15 games left, this would be a bad time to start losing touch with the teams above but Roma club captain Francesco Totti insists there is still a long way to go.

Asked about his own lack of goals this season – he has scored just three times in 19 league games – Totti claimed he would soon click into gear.

“There’s still a long way to go in the championship and my goals will come,” he said.

“It’s a vital match, if we get a result on Sunday we’ll be able to remain hot on AC Milan’s heels, even though right now we’re nine points back with a game in hand.”

Milan have stumbled several times since the turn of the year but both Roma and third-placed Inter have failed to take full advantage, themselves slipping up when there was the opporunity to close the gap.

However, things are going a lot better for both of them than for Italy’s most successful side, Juventus.

Following the disaster of last season when Juve finished seventh and went through two coaches, they spent big in the summer and hired Luigi Delneri to revive the club’s fortunes.

Things started out well enough this season but they have completely lost their way since the turn of the year, losing five out of eight games in all competitions, including their last three.

They come into the weekend games in eighth place, and have a tricky trip to Cagliari looming on the horizon.

They lost 2-1 at Palermo in midweek, increasing the pressure on Delneri, who responded by blaming refereeing decisions.

“The club will evaluate at the end of the season if I’ve done well or not,” he said.

“We need to push on from the desire we showed (against Palermo) but then if there are two or three penalties that don’t get given it becomes difficult, also for the coach.”

Milan travel to Genoa looking to maintain the five-point lead at the top they extended in midweek despite a 0-0 draw at home to Lazio.

Napoli failed to capitalise as they produced a listless display in losing 2-0 at Chievo.

However, they return home to host struggling Cesena on Sunday while Lazio entertain Chievo.

Of the other sides challenging for a Champions League finish, Udinese host struggling Sampdoria, who have lost their way since Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini left in the January transfer window, and Palermo travel to lowly Lecce. 

  

Roma ready to sell to US businessman Di Benedetto

ROME (AP): Roma says it's ready to negotiate a sale to American businessman Thomas Di Benedetto, a part owner of the parent company of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool.

Members of Roma's management have been in the United States for over a week to try to find buyers, and chose Di Benedetto's company Di Benedetto AS Roma LLC ahead of four other offers.

A club announcement on Thursday said the American company "present themselves as the most competitive offer."

The two parties hope to conclude the deal within two weeks.

Di Benedetto was a partner in the Fenway Sports Group, formerly New England Sports Ventures, which owns the Red Sox, Fenway Park, Liverpool, New England Sports Network and Roush-Fenway Racing.

  

Inter Milan beats Bari 3-0, up to 3rd in Serie A

ROME (AP): Inter Milan moved up to third in the Serie A following a 3-0 win over Bari on Thursday.

Inter was seven points behind leader AC Milan, with a game in hand.

The only game on Thursday was a bland affair until midway through the second half when Houssine Kharja produced a rare moment of inspiration for his first goal since arriving on loan from Genoa at the end of the transfer window.

Giampaolo Pazzini then scored his third in two games since signing from Sampdoria, and just before the final whistle Wesley Sneijder was left unmarked for the third.

"It isn't easy, but the three goals I have scored in two games has helped us win twice," Pazzini said. "We had a good first half and tried to keep the tempo high. We lacked a bit of rhythm, but improved in the second half."

Bari had the best chance of the first half when Sergio Almiron forced Inter 'keeper Julio Cesar into a sprawling save with a powerful free kick.

After the break neither side improved, though Alessandro Parisi made Cesar pull off another save and Sneijder blasted over from close range.

Inter took the lead in the 70th and gave the game some spark. The Moroccan played a return pass with Samuel Eto'o and fired a low shot into the corner of the goal past Jean-Francois Gillet.

Three minutes later Parisi went close again, but Cesar pushed his powerful volley away for a corner.

With 10 minutes remaining Cesar again came to Inter's rescue by stopping Alessandro Gazzi's effort.

In injury time Pazzini cut in from the left and lashed a shot past Gillet and then Sneijder had time and space to score his first league goal of the season.

  

Milan coach Allegri spoiled for choice in attack

ROME (AP): AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is finding out the hard way that four into three doesn't go.

Since signing Italy striker Antonio Cassano in the transfer window, Allegri has had to juggle his attacking options by deploying two from Cassano, Alexandre Pato and Robinho alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Pato is the player most at risk of losing his starting place for Milan's trip to Genoa on Sunday, after a run of injuries and poor performances.

In Tuesday's 0-0 draw against Lazio the Brazilian made way for Cassano just after the hour and earlier in the season he complained about his relationship with Ibrahimovic.

"There is no problem with Pato," Allegri said. "I took him off because the defense was closing him down quickly and Cassano works better in tight spaces."

Milan is unbeaten in its six league games since the start of 2011 with three wins and three draws and is five points clear at the top of Serie A in pursuit of its 18th Italian championship.

The addition of Cassano, Mark Van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and Nicola Legrottaglie during the transfer window has added greater depth to the squad, while a number of players are likely to return from injury and suspension in the next few weeks.

"The next match will be tricky, however we will have two or three players back and this is very important for us," Allegri said. "I hope that (Kevin-Prince) Boateng, (Gennaro) Gattuso, (Clarence) Seedorf, Van Bommel and (Andrea) Pirlo will be back."

Second-place Napoli missed a chance to close the gap on Milan in midweek by slumping to a 2-0 loss to Chievo Verona.

New signing Giuseppe Mascara is likely to be included in the squad for the home fixture with Cesena and is confident that he can help Walter Mazzarri's side recover immediately.

"I saw the match but I'm sure it is just a hiccup," Mascara said. "It is difficult playing every three days but we have to be confident in ourselves.

"We are fighting for something very important, but I have found a very unified group of players."

Defending champion Inter Milan hosts last year's runner-up AS Roma, which is without suspended France center back Philippe Mexes.

Inter coach Leonardo meanwhile has a similar problem to his AC Milan counterpart. Giampaolo Pazzini scored twice on his Inter debut last weekend and Samuel Eto'o took his league tally to 13 in the 3-2 victory over Palermo.

The Brazilian can also turn to last year's leading scorer Diego Milito and Goran Pandev up front as he tries to close the gap on Inter's city rival.

"Of course we look at the table, but we aren't obsessed with it," Leonardo said. "We have still got a lot of matches until it is over and we know how hard it is to win just one game.

"We are just thinking about getting into a place where we can challenge and then we will see."

Fiorentina is boosted by Adrian Mutu's return to the squad for its fixture at Parma. The Romania striker was suspended after walking out on the team in early January.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's team beat Genoa on Wednesday to relieve the pressure on its beleaguered coach, after fans had protested outside the stadium following defeat to Lazio at the weekend, but Fiorentina is still without a win on the road since early Feb. 2010.

"These three points are massive and it is an important win," Mihajlovic said after the victory. "The guys gave everything - heart and determination - and this is how they should play."

On Saturday, it's: Udinese vs. Sampdoria; Cagliari vs. Juventus.

Also Sunday, it's: Bologna vs. Catania; Brescia vs. Bari; Lazio vs. Chievo Verona; and Lecce vs. Palermo.

  

Palermo defeats Juventus 2-1; Napoli loses 2-0

ROME (AP): Juventus' winless streak reached four matches with a 2-1 loss at Palermo on Wednesday that dropped the struggling 27-time champion into eighth place in Serie A.

Former Juventus striker Fabrizio Miccoli put Palermo in front seven minutes in with a shot under the legs of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, then Giulio Migliaccio doubled the lead in the 20th with a header off a corner.

Juventus argued for a penalty to no avail despite a clear handball by Palermo defender Cesare Bovo in the 34th, and Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio took his anger out over the missed call to cut the lead in half in the 36th with a shot that went by four defenders.

Second-place Napoli lost 2-0 at Chievo Verona, which scored goals through Davide Moscardelli and Gennaro Sardo. AS Roma was held to a 1-1 home draw by Brescia, which equalized in the 69th through Brazilian striker Eder after Marco Borriello had put Roma ahead.

AC Milan, which drew 0-0 with Lazio on Wednesday, holds a five-point lead over Napoli, with Lazio seven points back and Roma nine points behind in fourth.

Five-time defending champion Inter Milan, which has played two fewer matches, is 10 points back entering its game at Bari on Thursday.

Also Wednesday, it was: Cesena 1, Catania 1; Fiorentina 1, Genoa 0; Parma 0, Lecce 1; Sampdoria 0, Cagliari 1; and Udinese 1, Bologna 1.

Juventus, which is 13 points behind Milan, has not been able to overcome a series of injuries that have decimated its attack, taking out Fabio Quagliarella, Simone Pepe and Luca Toni.

Juve signed Alessandro Matri as the transfer window closed Monday, and the former Cagliari forward played from the start but his best chance unluckily hit Bovo's heel in the 48th.

Juventus also lost 2-1 to Udinese at the weekend, and was eliminated 2-0 by Roma in the Italian Cup quarterfinals last week following a 0-0 draw with Sampdoria.

  

Lazio produce a spirited defence to draw with Serie A leaders

ROME: Lazio produced a spirited rearguard action to hold Serie A leaders AC Milan to a 0-0 draw at the San Siro on Tuesday.

Lazio came into the match in third place in the league and knowing that a defeat would almost certainly rule them out of the title running.

And although the hosts dominated throughout, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic hitting both posts with a single shot, they could not find a way through the Romans’ stubborn resistance.

Massimiliano Allegri, the Milan coach, said his side had deserved to come away with three points.

“We rushed too much in the first half, Lazio defended very well but they didn’t have a single shot on goal,” he said.

“We had several good chances, especially Ibra hitting the posts.

“The lads played a good game and deserved the win but this is football.

“However, it’s the third game in a row in which we haven’t conceded a goal and that’s good news.

“What disappoints me most is that we had several chances in the first half but didn’t know how to exploit them.”

Lazio boss Edy Reja was delighted with the point.

“We knew that we would need luck to get a point at Milan and we struggled a lot,” he said.

“We played well defensively. We didn’t have the right players today so we concentrated on defence and it went well.

“It’s good to be going home with a point.”

Lazio remain seven points off the summit but could lose third place to either neighbours Roma or Inter Milan when they play their games.

The first half was a truly forgettable affair as although Milan dominated possession and pinned back Lazio, they created little more than their negative opponents.

If the first half had been lacking in action, the first 10 minutes of the second quickly made up for it.

Ibrahimovic made space on the edge of the box and smacked a shot beyond Ferdinando Muslera but the ball ricocheted off both posts and back into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms.

Flamini’s cross-cum-shot was then held by Muslera before Ibrahimovic turned smartly but fired just beyond the far post.

Milan remained on top and were particularly dangerous on the counter with Robinho arriving on the overlap only to see Giuseppe Biava clear his goalbound shot off the line.

The hosts kept pushing but Lazio’s gritty determination and resistance continued.

  

Ranieri complains of lack of funds

ROME: While their major title rivls AC Milan and Inter Milan spent big during the January transfer window, Roma were remarkably quiet.

However, coach Claudio Ranieri insists that is not because they didn’t want to sign anyone but simply because they don’t have any money.

Milan brought in Antonio Cassano, Mark van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and Didac Vila while Inter strengthened their roster with Giampaolo Pazzini, Houssine Kharja, Andrea Ranocchia and Japanese fullback Yuto Nagatomo.

But Ranieri moaned that the best his team can hope for is to get their injured players back to full fitness.

“They (Milan and Inter) were already better than us and they have more money to invest so they bought players,” he said.

“Right now we couldn’t even spare one penny.

“I hope that we won’t be penalised by this transfer window, soon we’ll have (David) Pizarro back, he should be training with us at the beginning of next week, and I also hope that Adriano will have a decisive contribution towards the end of the season by scoring several goals.”

Those lacking funds could soon become available, though, if Roma’s proposed sale goes through.

The current owners, including the Sensi family, UniCredit bank and Rothschild will evaluate five offers on Thursday.

But Ranieri does not feel that a change of owners will put his position under threat.

“I won’t give more to new owners, I’ve always given my best to everyone, for myself and for Roma’s players,” he said.

“It’s hard to prove yourself at 60, everyone should already know my strengths and faults.

“If I don’t feature in the new owners’ plans and they don’t keep, I’ll have given my all.”

However, referring to countryman Carlo Ancelotti’s £50mil signing of Fernando Torres at Chelsea, Ranieri said money counts.

“It’s clear that money counts, just look at the present Chelsea gave to my friend Ancelotti.” 

  

AC Milan and Lazio draw 0-0 in Serie A

MILAN (AP) - A shot from AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit both posts but that was the closest either side came to scoring in a 0-0 draw between the Serie A leader and third-place Lazio on Tuesday.

Milan stretched its lead to five points ahead of Napoli, which visits Chievo on Wednesday. Lazio is seven points behind.

Milan dominated throughout and in the 51st minute Ibrahimovic's shot from just beyond the area ricocheted first off the left post, and then the right before bouncing away as the Sweden striker looked on incredulously.

"We had a lot of chances right up until the end. Lazio defended well but I don't think they ever shot on goal tonight," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "We played a good game and did some good things and I think we deserved to win. But that's football and we've got to accept it."

Already without 12 players due to injury and suspension, Milan took a further battering in central defense. Daniele Bonera exited following a first-half collision and his substitute Nicola Legrottaglie, who transferred from Juventus on Monday, had his forehead bloodied in a collision and was carried off on a stretcher in the 85th.

Ibrahimovic also had a chance in the 28th, but his header deflected wide off a defender. Newly-signed Dutch international Urby Emanuelson then set up Mathieu Flamini with a perfect cross but the Frenchman wasn't able to take advantage.

Ibrahimovic missed another attempt wide in the 53rd and Robinho had a shot cleared off the line by defender Giuseppe Biava in the 70th.

Crafty forward Antonio Cassano came on for Alexandre Pato in the 70th but didn't create much despite Lazio sitting back, apparently content with the draw.

In other matches Wednesday, Juventus visits Palermo and AS Roma hosts Brescia, while Inter Milan faces Bari on Thursday.