The reigning Champions League winners came into the clash hoping to reproduce the stylish football which saw off Benfica in midweek.

But, having taken the lead through Clarence Seedorf at the end of a first half they dominated, the Rossoneri let Andrea Pisanu bag an equaliser with what was Parma's only real chance of the match.

Filippo Inzaghi then came close as the game entered its final stages, but like his team's performance on the whole, the shot was not quite good enough.

It takes Milan's record to a less than impressive one win in four games - though they remain undefeated - and moves them down to sixth in the table, while Parma are 14th with three draws and one defeat.

Based on the first 45 minutes of their trip to the San Siro, it seemed inevitable Domenico Di Carlo would be counting another loss.

First, Kaka's 15th-minute header brought a fine save from Nicola Pavarini, before the Brazilian played in Inzaghi, who shot straight at the keeper when he had the goal at his mercy.

Reginaldo Ferreira Da Silva then blazed over with an opportunistic free-kick for Parma, but Milan hit back and came within a whisker of taking the early initiative.

Marek Jankulovski was the creator, feeding Inzaghi's run only to see the Italian rifle his drive against the post.

It was a let off for Parma - and they would get lucky again in the 29th minute when Alessandro Nesta blasted a Seedorf corner towards goal and team-mate Daniele Bonera blocked the net-bound shot with the keeper nowhere close.

Parma were seemingly living on borrowed time, but the luck ran out when Pavarini saved Inzaghi's 44th minute drive and Seedorf, lurking just yards from goal, poached the opener.

Inzaghi blasted wide as Milan resumed play after the break in attacking mood, while Reginaldo miscontrolled when in front of goal after 50 minutes.

By the time Andrea Pirlo mis-kicked when through on goal it seemed their was no Parma threat, but then things changed.

From the left side, Reginaldo played in Andrea Pisanu, who promptly lashed a left foot piledriver past Dida and into the bottom corner for an unlikely leveller.

Seedorf missed a chance to instantly restore the lead, while Kaka, collecting the ball with just 10 minutes to go, missed a golden chance when miscontrolling in the area.

Bernardo Corradi came close as the game entered its final stages, but like Inzaghi's strike seconds later, he bobbled his shot when presented with a clear sight of goal.