Thiago Silva scored at both ends of the Olimpico, but Milan held on under a late siege for a very important away victory.

Davide Ballardini knew he had to win this match or face the sack after a humiliating 4-1 midweek Europa League defeat at Villarreal, not to mention the fact they hadn't won in Serie A since Week 2. That wouldn't be easy, as Milan were undefeated in this fixture since 1997-98.

Guglielmo Stendardo, Ousmane Dabo and Albano Bizzarri were out of action, while the Rossoneri left Daniele Bonera, Gennaro Gattuso, Marek Jankulovski, Oguchi Onyewu and Marco Storari behind.

Tommaso Rocchi and Aleksandar Kolarov had chances in the first four minutes, while former Lazio star Massimo Oddo tested Nando Muslera from distance.

Milan broke the deadlock after 21 minutes. Andrea Pirlo whipped a free kick towards the near post, where Thiago Silva powered in his header from four yards.

Ronaldinho flicked up the ball for Marco Borriello, whose left-foot half-volley was charged down by Sebastiano Siviglia.

Nelson Dida palmed a Mauro Zarate free kick out from under the bar, but Milan made it 2-0 at the Olimpico. Alexandre Pato got in front of Kolarov for a precise header from Ronaldinho's cross.

It had already been raining in Rome all day, but the situation deteriorated into hail. That may have contributed to Muslera's mistake when he picked up a backpass with his hands. Clarence Seedorf fired the indirect free kick wide.

Pirlo's free kick sailed over and Lazio made changes with Julio Cruz replacing Stefano Mauri. The former Inter striker went close immediately by turning wide of the near post with the aid of a Thiago Silva deflection.

Kolarov's strike flashed across the face of goal and Lazio got back into the game with a stroke of luck. Zarate's shot was deflected off Oddo and then Thiago Silva accidentally prodded it past his own goalkeeper. The Argentine celebrated by telling the home fans to be quiet.

All of a sudden the Biancocelesti were fired up and a Zarate blockbuster from the edge of the box stung Dida's palms, while Pato drilled just over the bar.

Francelino Matuzalem wasted a promising counter with a horribly misplaced cross for Rocchi. Zarate turned two defenders inside out only for his shot to go out for a corner off Thiago Silva, then Rocchi nodded Mourad Meghni's cross wide with a free header.

It was wide open at the Olimpico and Muslera flew to palm a Mathieu Flamini corker out from under the crossbar. Stefan Radu was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card for his sliding tackle on Inzaghi.

Pato went past Cribari with some wonderful footwork and his left-foot strike was fingertipped over the bar.