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Roma and AC Milan share points

AS Roma and AC Milan warmed up for their Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-1 draw in the Italian league on Saturday.

Roma defender Philippe Mexes scored with a drive from the edge of the area after four minutes at Stadio Olimpico and Alberto Gilardino equalized with a header in the 61st.

Milan host Bayern Munich tomorrow in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals and Roma play Manchester United.

Roma are second in the league with 59 points -- 17 behind Inter Milan -- and Milan are fifth with 44 points.

Roma dominated the first half, with captain Francesco Totti and midfielder Amantino Mancini also threatening. Mexes nearly scored again in the 25th but Milan goalkeeper Dida deflected the ball wide.

Totti was angered by a tackle from former teammate Cafu in the 40th. The Roma captain grasped his surgically repaired left ankle but continued playing with no apparent problem.

Gilardino replaced Ricardo Oliveira in Milan's attack to start the second half and soon after redirected a free kick by Andrea Pirlo for his ninth goal of the season.

Roma pressed in search of the victory but couldn't convert a series of late opportunities, most notably when Gilardino was unable to find an empty net off a perfect setup from Kaka in the 80th.

Ronaldo rarely threatened for Milan and was replaced by Gennaro Gattuso in the 80th.

"This was the appropriate result," said Milan defender Alessandro Nesta, who played the full 90 minutes in his first game after a four-month layoff with a shoulder injury.

"It was tough, especially at the end. I've been at the beach for three months. But I still can do it," Nesta said.

Earlier on Saturday, Siena beat Reggina 1-0 to move six points clear of the relegation zone and Alessandro Birindelli scored as Juventus won 1-0 at Pescara to extend their lead atop Serie B to six points.

Defender Valerio Bertotto headed in a corner kick by the far post in first-half injury time to snap Siena's three-game losing streak.

Both teams ended with 10 men at Oreste Granillo stadium in Reggio Calabria.

Reggina defender Alessandro Lucarelli was given a red card for taking down Francesco Cozza in the 22nd minute. Cozza's ensuing penalty kick was saved by Reggina goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo.

Siena forward Daniele Corvia was sent off for pushing down Reggina defender Salvatore Aronica in the 73rd.

Siena have 30 points and Reggina have 25, leaving them only one point clear of the relegation zone.

Reggina was penalized 11 points for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal. Siena were docked one point for late tax payments.

In Pescara, Juventus defender Birindelli was left wide open by the near post in the 74th to redirect a corner kick by Raffaele Palladino.

Pescara goalkeeper Ciro Polito tipped a penalty by Alessandro Del Piero wide in the 41st.

Juventus have 58 points. Genoa, who beat Albinoleffe 1-0 on Friday, are second with 52.
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