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 Catania Calcio have defeated a second-string AC Milan 2-1 in the first leg of their Coppa Italia clash at the San Siro, extending Milan's winless home record for the season.
Carlo Ancelotti fielded a completely different side from the Rossoneri 11 that captured the Club World Cup last Sunday. Aubameyang started brightly and served Gourcuff to force a corner after seven minutes.
Emerson had an impressive first period, but his excellent through balls were wasted by Gourcuff and Paloschi.
Against the run of play, Catania took the lead through Gionatha Spinesi who took advantage of some poor defending to get hold of Giuseppe Mascara's long ball and slide past Zeljko Kalac.
Kaka's brother Digao was left red-faced just minutes later as his sloppy ball from inside his own box found Mascara to convert with ease for 2-0. Kalac made a superb save to stop Mariano Izco making it 3-0 on the break before Milan hit back.
Dario Simic's long ball found Paloschi who beat Gennaro Sardo and hit the net.
 Digao nearly made ammends for his defensive blunder when his header was tipped away for a corner by Bizarri.
Sardo saw red for a brutal challenge on Sergino with 15 minutes left, but Milan couldn't take advantage of the extra man.
Ancelotti's side now have a tough task in Sicily, while Catania will return home jubilant after the Elefanti's first ever win over the Diavolo.
Milan 1-2 Catania
Scorers: Spinesi 19 (C), Mascara 26 (C), Paloschi 58 (M)
Sent Off: Sardo 75 (C)
Milan: Kalac; Cafu, Digao, Simic, Favalli; Emerson, Brocchi, Serginho; Aubameyang (Umunegubu 45), Gourcuff (Darmian 87), Alberto
Catania: Bizarri; Sardo, Sottil, Stovini, Vargas; Izco, Edusei (Colucci 63), Baiocco (Martinez 52), Biagianti, Mascara (Sabato 73), Spinesi
Ref: Bergonzi | | Lazio completed their comeback to defeat Napoli 2-1 at the Olimpico, but it leaves qualification wide open.
The first leg of this Coppa Italia Fourth Round was a tight and entertaining affair with both teams going for the victory. As they have struggled in Serie A this season, the trophy is possibly their best chance of ensuring a UEFA Cup spot.
Goran Pandev failed to make the most of an early Lorenzo De Silvestri assist, then Mourad Meghni went off injured. This was soon followed by another blow for the Biancocelesti, as Napoli took a surprise lead when Roberto Sosa held up Ruben Maldonado’s cross for Sam Dalla Bona’s angled drive.
Goalkeeper Matteo Gianello denied Aleksandar Kolarov and Christian Manfredini’s volley skimmed the bar, but the home side struggled to make much of an impact until De Silvestri’s equaliser on 66 minutes. Kolarov was again involved, his free kick beaten away by Gianello into the path of De Silvestri.
In the space of five minutes Lazio had overturned the result completely from another set play. This time Roberto Baronio unleashed a magnificent long-range free kick into the very top corner of the net at the near post.
There was a real scare before the final whistle, as Paolo Cannavaro spun round on a corner for a volley that cracked against the crossbar.
This result leaves qualification for the quarter-finals wide open, as Napoli have their away goal and will have home advantage at the San Paolo in January.
Lazio 2-1 Napoli
Scorers: Dalla Bona 28 (N), De Silvestri 66 (L), Baronio 71 (L)
Lazio: Muslera; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Firmani (Mutarelli 46), Baronio, Manfredini; Meghni (Mauri 21); Pandev (Makinwa 75), Tare
Napoli: Gianello; Maldonado, Cannavaro, Contini; Grava, Montervino, Blasi, Dalla Bona (Hamsik 52), Rullo (Savini 75); Sosa, Calaiò (Lavezzi 59)
Ref: Stefanini
| lvaro Recoba scored two screamers to stun Roma into submission as Torino won their Coppa Italia first leg tie 3-1.
The two teams had only met this weekend in a 0-0 draw under the shadow of the Alps and were face to face once again three days later.
El Chino has been disappointing so far this season, but within two minutes made clear this would be a game that proved a point, as his cross-shot was about to curl in from the byeline before Gianluca Curci’s save.
Mirko Vucinic had a couple of chances, but Recoba broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion on 13 minutes. His dummy left Daniele De Rossi for dead and he unleashed a left-foot daisy-cutter from almost 30 metres.
Simone Barone went off with muscular problems and Curci closed down Roberto Stellone’s counter-attack, but the visitors improved as the first half wore on and equalised in stoppages with an all-Brazilian goal. Cicinho’s searching pass sent Amantino Mancini running for a low angled drive inside the box.
It did not last long, as Recoba came out after the restart with a fire in his belly and beat Curci for the second time. The Uruguayan sprung the offside trap and blasted a powerful strike under the crossbar with his weaker right foot.
Curci denied Recoba his hat-trick after the Toro star had shaken off Matteo Ferrari, while Sasa Bjelanovic just failed to get the decisive touch to Chino’s assist. Roma had penalty appeals for a Bottone handling offence and De Rossi went close to drawing level, his glancing header inches away.
Just as the Giallorossi were pouring forward, Toro snatched a third. Gianluca Comotto, who was sent off against Roma on Sunday, nodded in Vincenzo Grella’s assist from a move sparked by that man Recoba.
The drama still wasn't over, as Alberto Fontana performed a crucial reaction save on Simone Perrotta in stoppages.
The 3-1 result still leaves the Giallorossi with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals after the second leg in January.
Torino 3-1 Roma
Scorers: Recoba 13, 51 (T), Mancini 45 (R), Comotto 88 (T)
Torino: Fontana; Comotto, Dellafiore, Di Loreto (Natali 74), Lanna; Lazetic, Barone (Bottone 20), Grella, Vailatti; Recoba, Stellone (Bjelanovic 58)
Roma: Curci; Cicinho, Cassetti, Ferrari, Antunes (Della Penna 81); Brighi (Tonetto 64), De Rossi; Mancini, Perrotta, Pit (Pizarro 57); Vucinic
Ref: Girardi
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