Buffon howler hands Milan

In a tight and tense match at Stadio Olimpico, a moment of magic from one of the impressive array of attacking players had been expected to make the difference - not an error from one of the world’s great keepers.

But, after rare goalscorer Gattuso released a low effort that should have been meat and drink for Buffon, a momentary lapse of concentration saw the lifetime Bianconeri let the ball slip under him and over the line.

The result puts Milan eight points clear of second-placed Internazionale, a gap that can be narrowed as their city rivals face Genoa on Sunday; Juve lie a poor seventh, a mammoth 20 points behind the Rossoneri and closer to relegation than the title.

Chances were few and far between in an evenly-matched first half that saw both sides attack at will but fail to really test the goalkeepers, thanks in part to solid defending but also poor finishing.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had an early sighter, volleying just wide after a superb weighted pass by Mathieu Flamini, while strike partner Antonio Cassano was denied by a sliding challenge from Frederik Sorensen and then by his own poor finishing, firing over after he had done all the hard work to create a shooting opportunity.

Juve, meanwhile, stumbled at the ‘final-ball’ stage, failing to test Christian Abbiati as Milos Krasic and Luca Toni showed good touches and endeavour without really challenging Alessandro Nest and Thiago Silva.

The second half was equally tight, with possession largely even but Milan again looking the more dangerous as Flamini headed straight at Buffon, who later did well to parry Ibrahimovic’s long-range free-kick.

There was a rare sniff for Juve when Marek Jankulovski went to sleep to let Giorgio Chiellini in, but his cross was beyond Alessandro Matri and Luca Toni.

Midway through the second half the Rossoneri edged ahead, with Buffon’s error as poor as it was uncharacteristic.

Gattuso - who took his career Serie A tally to eight with the goal - could scarcely believe it and one could almost sense the Bianconeri players and faithful accepting defeat as they toiled through the latter stages.

Indeed, they could not muster a shot on target, with Milan sub Robinho’s deflected effort wide the only meaningful opportunity as the visitors comfortably held out for their 18th Serie A win of the season.