Following a surprise Champions League defeat at Celtic in midweek and a poor start in Serie A which had seen them win just one of their first six Serie A matches, Milan supremo Silvio Berlusconi described the club's predicament as "the darkest period of his presidency", but it was Lazio president Claudio Lotito who was feeling the pressure in Rome.

The Rossoneri lifted the gloom with an impressive display as inspirational Kaka helped himself to a brace - the first from the penalty spot - after Stefano Mauri had cancelled out Massimo Ambrosini's opener and Gilardino netted twice in the last 20 minutes to rub salt into the Lazio wounds.

Lazio fans vented their fury at Lotito once again and the president was clearly unimpressed with the performance of his side, leaving his seat with 20 minutes remaining.

Dida has come in for criticism this week following his theatrical reaction to a slap from a Celtic supporter after conceding a late winner at Parkhead, but the Brazil goalkeeper put that firmly behind him with a commanding display.

And it was his countryman Kaka who once again caught the eye, taking his tally to six goals in as many league games as Milan secured their first Serie A victory since the opening weekend of the season.

Defeat for the Biancoceleste leaves them languishing in 14th place with just one league triumph to their name.

Lazio's Champions League draw against Real Madrid clearly took a lot out of them, but they started brightly and could have taken the lead six minutes in but Tommaso Rocchi's control let him down after being played in by Goran Pandev.

Gilardino had the ball in the back of the net after 13 minutes but the Italy striker was adjudged to be offside.

But two minutes later Carlo Ancelotti's side were in front when Ambrosini's cross-come-shot drifted over Fernando Muslera and looped into the net.

Lazio rolled up their sleeves and were level after 22 minutes when Lorenzo De Silvestri crossed for Mauri who beat Dida with a clinical left-foot finish.

Dida had to be alert to keep out a Rocchi header three minutes later.

But Milan restored their one-goal advantage just after the half-hour mark when Muslera upended Gilardino and Kaka kept his nerve to convert the resulting spot-kick.

And the Lazio supporters were stunned into silence six minutes after the break when Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo combined and the latter set up Kaka, who squeezed the ball in at the near post to embarrass Muslera.

Gilardino then poked the ball through Muslera's legs to make it four, which prompted Lotito to vacate his seat in the directors' box.

And to add insult to injury, the former Parma striker scored a fifth with 12 minutes remaining, taking a pass from Ambrosini in his stride and firing the ball home with his right foot.