AC Milan continued their recent resurgence with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Chievo Verona.
Goals from Mario Balotelli and a brace from Kaka, on his 300th appearance in a Milan jersey, saw the Rossoneri stroll to victory. Seven points from the last three games has eased some of the pressure that was starting to build on Clarence Seedorf. Opposite number Eugenio Corini will be looking over his shoulder, with Chievo far from being clear of relegation trouble.
Seedorf had to shuffle his defence with Kevin Constant and Philippe Mexes both suspended, so Cristian Zaccardo and Urby Emanuelson stepped in.
Luca Rigoni was suspended for the visitors, but Alberto Paloschi, who is co-owned by Milan, led the line up front and hoped to add to the two goals he scored against Bologna in midweek. Ex-Inter striker Victor Obinna started alongside him.
Milan had never lost to Chievo at the San Siro and got off to a dream start. Balotelli volleyed in an Adil Rami cross from six yards after just four minutes.
Michael Agazzi -- rumoured to be on his way to Milan in the summer -- was the busier of the two goalkeepers. He palmed clear from Adel Taarabt and saw a Balotelli effort deflect wide.
Simone Bentivoglio had Chievo's first chance on 15 minutes, but his shot was straight at Christian Abbiati and easily punched clear. The visitors had a couple of other chances. Bentivoglio sent a lob over the crossbar, Gennaro Sardo headed over from a corner, then Paloschi's turn and shot finished in Row Z.
Chievo's failure to finish and deal with crosses led to Milan's second goal on 27 minutes. Kaka ghosted into space and was left totally unmarked to chest down a Honda ball and tap in just yards from goal.
It really should have been three on 38 minutes. In a contender for miss of the season, Keisuke Honda lifted a shot over from three yards after Balotelli had sprung the offside trap and rolled across for the unmarked Japanese midfielder.
Sulley Muntari was stretchered off with a foot injury on the stroke of halftime. Milan re-asserted their dominance after the break. Taarabt ran into traffic in the Chievo box after wanting too many touches.
To no one's surprise, Milan added a third goal nine minutes after the restart. Kaka flighted a free kick into the box and Honda's initial header was kept out by Agazzi. The ball came back out to Kaka, who curled an effort off the inside of the far post from the left-hand side of the box.
Michael Essien almost added a fourth when he powered into the area, only to send his shot over. Abbiati stayed alert to claw the ball off the line after Obinna cleverly dummied a corner and almost caught the Milan goalkeeper unaware.
Kaka was given a standing ovation when he was replaced late on by Robinho. Bostjan Cesar put in a saving tackle to rob Balotelli just as the Italian was set to pull the trigger.
Dario Dainelli appeared to block Taarabt's shot with his hand in the closing minutes, but no penalty was given. Chievo were given a spot kick in stoppage time when Zaccardo tripped Cyril Thereau. Paloschi wanted to take the kick against his parent club, but Thereau assumed responsibility and saw his effort rebound back off the crossbar to compound a miserable evening for the Flying Donkeys.
AC Milan: Abbiati; Bonera, Zaccardo, Rami, Emanuelson; De Jong, (Poli 60) Muntari; (Essien 45) Honda, Kakà, (Robinho 74) Taarabt; Balotelli
Goals: Balotelli 4, Kaka 27, 54
Chievo Verona: Agazzi; Sardo, Dramé, (Cesar 68) Frey, Dainelli, Bernardini; Radovanovic, Bentivoglio Hetemaj; (Guarente 77) Obinna, (Thereau 63) Paloschi