ITALIAN SERIE A:SUBSTITUTE Alexandre Pato netted a superb winner after Robinho had scored using the top of his arm as Serie A leaders AC Milan ground out a precious 2-1 win at Chievo yesterday.
Second-placed Napoli kept the gap at three points thanks to Juan Zunigas 25th-minute strike in a nervous 1-0 home win over Catania where Edinson Cavani also missed a penalty.
While Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was mightily relieved to win on the 25th anniversary of Silvio Berlusconi taking over the club, AS Roma boss Claudio Ranieri was quitting after his faltering side lost 4-3 at Genoa having been 3-0 up.
Sixth-placed Juventus, two points above fellow underachievers Roma, also had another day to forget after losing 2-0 at Lecce where goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was sent off early in the game.
Milans Robinho struck on 25 minutes after dubiously controlling Zlatan Ibrahimovics knock-down and prodding home but a back-post header from Gelson Fernandes 16 minutes after the break looked to have given the mid-table hosts a draw.
Brazils Pato had other ideas and after replacing Antonio Cassano, he cut inside from the left, beat two defenders and scuffed in at the near post eight minutes from time.
Milan, wearing special white shirts to mark the occasion of Berlusconis anniversary, showed the same flaws which undermined them in Tuesdays Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat by Tottenham Hotspur but sheer determination won the day.
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