Milan's hopes dented by Chievo

Milan's pursuit of Serie A leaders Juventus suffered a major setback when they lost 2-1 at Chievo Verona yesterday.

Kakha Kaladze gave Milan the lead at Verona's Bentegodi stadium midway through the first half, but goals by strikers Sergio Pellissier and Simone Tiribocchi earned Chievo an unexpected victory.

The result left Milan second in the standings with 31 points from 14 matches, five points behind Juventus who play third-placed Fiorentina today. Chievo climbed to fifth on 24 points.

The defeat comes at the start of a vital week for Milan who face Germany's Schalke 04 in a decisive Champions League game on Tuesday and then take on Inter in the derby on December 11.

"We can't stop and think too much about this game," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"We have to prepare ourselves for the match against Schalke on Tuesday.

"But we certainly could have controlled our lead much better. Chievo were much more decisive and showed greater desire than we did. We suffered and didn't play very well for an hour of the game, we need to improve in terms of our character," he added.

Milan's task was never going to be easy against a Chievo side that had suffered just two defeats this season and they lost captain Paolo Maldini who went off at the break with a muscle injury.

Kaladze's goal seemed to have set them on the right track. The defender put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute, poking home a loose ball.

Milan wasted a chance to extend their advantage on the half hour when Kaladze delivered a perfect cross into the path of Andriy Shevchenko, only for the Ukrainian striker to scuff wide.

That miss proved costly. On the stroke of half-time Davide Mandelli flicked the ball on for Pellissier to beat Dida from close range.

In the second half, Ancelotti sent on Filippo Inzaghi in place of Shevchenko and Kaka for Rui Costa in an attempt to grab the winner.

Instead, it was second-half substitute Tiribocchi who had the last word, curling the ball round Dida.

In the evening match, Inter joined Fiorentina in third place after they beat Ascoli 1-0 at San Siro.

Brazilian Adriano grabbed the all-important goal on 24 minutes after rifling the ball home from a free-kick.

Serie A

Played Yesterday

Chievo 2
Milan 1

Inter 1
Ascoli 0

Playing Today - 3 p.m.
Fiorentina vs Juventus
Lazio vs Siena
Lecce vs Roma 8.30 p.m.
Palermo vs Cagliari

Reggina vs Parma
Sampdoria vs Empoli
Treviso vs Messina
Udinese vs Livorno

Next Fixtures

Saturday: 6 p.m. Siena vs Empoli; 8.30 p.m. Fiorentina vs Treviso.

Sunday: 3 p.m. Ascoli vs Reggina; Juve vs Cagliari; Livorno vs Lazio; Messina vs Chievo; Parma vs Samp-doria; Roma vs Palermo; Udinese vs Lecce. 8.30 p.m. Inter vs Milan.

Serie B

Bari vs Arezzo 1-1
Bologna vs Cremonese 1-1
Catania vs Modena 3-2
Cesena vs Pescara 0-0
Crotone vs Avellino 2-1

Mantova vs AlbinoLeffe 1-0
Piacenza vs Verona 0-1
Ternana vs Rimini (Friday) 2-1
Torino vs Triestina 2-1
Vicenza vs Brescia 0-0

Playing Tomorrow
Atalanta vs Catanzaro 8.45 p.m.