Philippe Mexes put the home side ahead in the fourth minute as Roma showed why they are doing so well in Serie A and the Champions League this season with some excellent football.

They had chances to double their lead before Alberto Gilardino grabbed an equaliser just after the hour mark, and both sides slowed down the tempo to settle for a point and turn their attention to crucial Champions League fixtures in midweek.

Scouts from Manchester United would certainly not have been enthusiastic about what they saw in the first five minutes at the Stadio Olimpico.

Their Champions League opponents next Wednesday, Roma, made a stunning start to the game.

They were ahead after just three minutes when Mexes met a quick corner from Francesco Totti and drilled the ball unstoppably into the roof of Dida's net.

Moments earlier, Totti had met another dangerous corner with a powerful header which was tipped over the crossbar by the Brazilian goalkeeper.

The home side did not let up after going ahead and managed to maintain their high tempo for half an hour. Milan did not know what had hit them.

On the rare occasion the Rossoneri did break free, and when Mexes slipped inside his own area, Ricardo Oliveira was too slow to take advantage and by the time he did manage a shot, Mexes had recovered to block.

Roma then had another succession of corners with Dida once again at full stretch to tip Totti's header over the bar.

Dario Simic headed just wide of the post as Milan threatened a goal on the break, but the home side looked comfortable throughout the first half.

And they appeared safe at 1-0 up early in the second period, too.

They could have doubled their advantage when Dida punched the ball weakly and Alessandro Mancini attempted to lob the ball into the vacant goal, but Cafu covered to clear the ball from the lurking Totti.

Roma were made to pay for not extending their lead when half-time substitute Gilardino equalised after 61 minutes.

He got the faintest of touches to Andrea Pirlo's free-kick to divert the ball past Doni in the Roma goal.

The home side took the sting out of the game and slowly built back up to where they had been before the Milan goal.

The arrival of Simone Perrotta lifted the Giallorossi and he played a neat one-two with Totti before slicing his shot wide, but Roma were getting closer to a second goal.

Mancini beat the offside trap to get beyond the Milan defence, but Cafu was again there to make a diving tackle and divert his shot wide of the far post.

Roma's strength on the set-piece was once again evident as Rodrigo Taddei, Perrotta and Daniele De Rossi all had quick-fire chances during a goalmouth scramble from which the visitors eventually managed to clear the danger.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti reacted by taking striker Ronaldo off and bringing midfield battler Gennaro Gattuso on for the last 10 minutes.

It was another Milan substitute who had the chance to steal all three points, but Gilardino placed an excellent Kaka through-ball wide of the post from 10 yards.