Midfield talisman Andrea Pirlo scored the only goal of the night with a thumping long-range effort on 25 minutes as Milan moved a point clear of both Inter Milan and Lazio, who both have a game in hand and are in action on Sunday.

Defeat for Parma was their third in six games this season and leaves them on five points, outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.

In the day's other game, Mehdi Benatia's first goal in the top flight earned Udinese their first win of the season in stoppage time against Cesena.

Cesena goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli seemed to have earned his side a point from their visit to the Stadio Friuli with a string of crucial saves but Benatia struck late on to clinch three points for the hosts.