Lazio 3 Milan 2

Third-placed Lazio edged struggling AC Milan 3-2  last night and stayed within four points of Juventus, who have 22 from eight games.

Lazio took the lead in the 24th when Hernanes' smart dribbling ended with his shot being deflected by Daniele Bonera over the stranded Marco Amelia for his fifth goal this season.

Milan almost equalised straight away when Stephan El Shaarawy fired the ball between the legs of onrushing Lazio keeper Albano Bizzarri, only to see Andre Dias's last-ditch slide block his goalbound shot.

BETTER SIDE

Lazio were clearly the better side, however, and doubled their lead after 41 minutes through Italy international Antonio Candreva, whose swerving long-range rocket shot whizzed past the suprised Amelia into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Miroslav Klose piled on the misery for Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri four minutes into the second half, finding a yawning gap in their defence and beautifully volleying Candreva's pinpoint long pass home.

The goal left the Germany striker as Serie A joint-top scorer so far this season on six with Napoli's Cavani.

Milan gave themselves a lifeline against the run of play just past the hour when Nigel De Jong touched home Urby Emanuelson's teasing free-kick.

El Shaarawy further closed the gap with his fifth goal of the season 11 minutes from time, working space for himself on the corner of the area and hitting a low, fizzing shot that the outstretched Bizzarri could only palm into the bottom corner.

But despite Brazil forward Alexandre Pato making his first Milan appearance since February and a huge improvement from the visitors in the second half they could not find an equaliser.

The defeat leaves Milan on seven points, with Allegri's position looking more in danger, while Lazio stay third with 18 points, three clear of Inter who host Catania on Sunday.