ROME (AFP) - Carlo Ancelotti was all smiles as his second-string AC Milan team won 1-0 at Cagliari to reduce Juventus' lead at the top of Serie A to three points.
With one eye on Wednesday's Champions League clash against Barcelona and next weekend's derby against Inter Milan, Ancelotti rotated his squad with Marcos Cafu, Jaap Stam and Hernan Crespo not even making the trip to Sardinia.
Filippo Inzaghi, Kaka and Gennaro Gattuso started on the bench, but all made appearances in the second half.
Cagliari were brimming with confidence having won all of their three previous home matches, but the promoted southerners had no answer to Andrea Pirlo's superb first half strike.
The Italy international sliced open the home defence with a robust run before firing a left-footed shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards.
Ancelotti was delighted to give several key players a well-earned rest and yet still end Cagliari's 100 percent home record.
"I was very pleased with the great professionalism shown by those who don't often get the chance to play," he said.
"They came in and helped us achieve an important victory. To win at Cagliari is very difficult and although we didn't play exceptionally well, we were very alert."
Milan have 13 points from six matches, three less than Juve who won at home to Messina on Saturday.
Matteo Brighi scored the only goal as 10-man Chievo won 1-0 away to Lazio which lifted the unbeaten Verona side up into third on 12 points.
Lecce claimed fourth spot thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Palermo with Serbian striker Mirko Vucinic grabbing both goals for the Puglian side.
Inter are sixth behind Messina after beating Udinese 3-1 at the San Siro where Brazilian forward Adriano scored two stunning goals in a blistering five minute first half spell.
Bologna came from a goal down to edge Atalanta 2-1, Brescia did likewise in their 3-1 home win over Parma and the Tuscany derby between Fiorentina and Siena ended goalless.
In Sunday's late match, Sampdoria moved up to ninth with a 1-0 win at Reggina.
Fabio Bazzani scored the only goal in Calabria, his low drive nine minutes before half time securing the Genoa club's third win in a row.
Chievo's triumph in Rome was achieved despite playing for the final 56 minutes a man down.
Simone Tiribocchi was booked for a foul on Fernando Couto, but carried on protesting with the referee until he received a second yellow card.
Vucinic broke the deadlock for Lecce four minutes after the break with a superb lob after latching onto Sam Dalla Bona's beuatifully floated pass.
Palermo spurned several gilt-edged chances to draw level before Vucinic put the result beyond doubt, dribbling into the box before slotting home.
Adriano was Inter's hero with a superb double which took his league tally to five.
He opened his account in the seventh minute, rifling home a fierce free-kick from 25 yards.
But the Brazilian saved his best till last, eclipsing that with a contender for goal of the season.
The powerful 22-year-old picked up the ball 20 yards inside his own half, ran at the heart of Udinese's defence and evaded three challenges before firing an angled left-footed drive into the far corner.
Juventus defeated surprise package Messina 2-1 in Turin on Saturday to extend their unbeaten start to the season.
Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta gave Juve the lead in the 26th minute with a firm header before Pavel Nedved volleyed home shortly after half time.
Messina, promoted last season and back in Serie A after 40 years, hit back thanks to a superb shot on the turn from Riccardo Zampagna, but despite a few late scares Juve held firm for their fifth league win in six matches.
In Saturday's other match, Roma won 2-0 away to bottom club Livorno to end a run of four league games without a victory.
Roma captain Francesco Totti opened the scoring on the half hour with a right-footed volley before Vincenzo Montella's second-half curler sealed the match in Tuscany.