Alexandre Pato and Mirko Vucinic each bagged a brace as Roma came back to tie AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome Sunday night. David Beckham was surprisingly handed a starting shirt on his much anticipated Serie A debut while Roma talisman Francesco Totti watched his team mates from the stands.

The game took off on a somewhat slow note as both team gathered possession while seizing each other up. The home side's John Arne Riise had the first chance on goal when his low drive from outside the penalty box was smothered by Abbiati in the Milan goal. Minutes later Clarence Seedorf saw his long range effort go high over the crossbar.

Twenty minutes into the game, Roma were taking up more possession as Milan's grip on the match slowly loosened. Vucinic received Riise's deep cross from the left and turned away both Maldini and Jankulovski before he put Roma one up to the approval of the Giallorossi fans.

Milan immediately started to press forward in their search for an equalizer and enjoyed large spells of possessions, but with the opposing team's excellent defense skills, the Rossoneri players had problems leaving their half of the pitch. Neither of the teams managed to create anything of significance during the remainder of an otherwise subtle first half.