Kaka, who terrorised the Manchester United defence in Wednesday's 3-0 win, saw his 26th-minute spot-kick come back off the post after Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini had handled the ball inside the area.

The result sees Milan drop to fourth in Serie A after Lazio narrowly beat Livorno to climb one point clear of the Rossoneri with three games remaining.

Buoyed by their midweek victory, which has set them up with a Champions League final date against Liverpool for the second time in three years, the Rossoneri went into the game looking to clinch their sixth consecutive league victory.

But with Brazilian striker Ronaldo missing through injury, they could not find a way past Viola goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.

Fiorentina had their fair share of chances, with Reginaldo denied by the post early on. However, they too were missing a key man up front with top-scorer Luca Toni out with an injury of his own.

The Viola had the first chance of the game, with Michele Pazienza's cross-shot going just over the crossbar.

The Rossoneri thought they had taken a seventh-minute lead when Kaka struck from Giuseppe Favalli's assist but the referee disallowed the goal thanks to a dubious offside decision.

Shortly afterwards, Ricardo Oliveira latched onto Serginho's cross but his header proved an easy catch for Frey.

Midway through the first half, Adrian Mutu warmed the hands of Milan goalkeeper Dida with a powerful free-kick.

Dida's next save proved more spectacular with the Brazilian keeper getting a touch on Reginaldo's close-range header, pushing the ball onto the post.

Fiorentina suffered another blow when the referee pointed to the spot but fortunately for them, Kaka's effort struck the inside of the post and came back.

Fiorentina replied with Riccardo Montolivo's effort from distance forcing Dida to fully stretch to clear.

The visitors continued to surge forward and on the half-hour mark, Favalli made a crucial tackle on Mutu, who was ready to fire from close range.

Seconds later, Martin Jorgensen's right-footed strike went wide of Dida's left post.

For all their efforts, Fiorentina could have gone to the break trailing 1-0 had Frey not made a stunning one-handed save from Oliveira's diagonal strike from inside the box.

The Rossoneri picked up where they left off after the restart, with Kaka's right-footed strike forcing Frey to make a fine save.

In the 52nd minute, Cafu missed a golden chance to break the deadlock with the Brazilian midfielder unable to beat Frey in a one-on-one situation.

On the hour mark, Andrea Pirlo's curled free-kick stunned Frey but went inches wide of the far post.

At the other end, Giampaolo Pazzini's right-footed strike from the edge of the area went wide.

Milan desperately surged forward in search of a winner.

Frey had to stretch to clear Pirlo's direct free-kick towards the far post while shortly afterwards, Massimo Ambrosini's close-range header fizzed wide as Milan ran out of time.