AC Milan triumphed 2-1 over Inter in the Milan derby at the San Siro on Sunday to boost their hopes of Champions League football next season and delay their city rivals' title celebrations.

AS Roma's impressive3-0 win at Sampdoria ensured champions Inter still need three more points from their final two matches to clinch a third straight crown.

After Fiorentina's 2-1 defeat at Cagliari, Milan moved up to fourth and now have Champions League qualification within their own hands.

Predictably, hosts Milan made the brighter opening in the day's big match.

Massimo Ambrosini and Giuseppe Favalli were both wildly off target with early long-range efforts before the Kaka-Filippo Inzaghi partnership started kicking into gear.

On 20 minutes world player of the year Kaka prepared to shoot on the edge of the area but fooled everyone by playing in Inzaghi instead. Inter's Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar stood up well though, and blocked his shot for a comer.

1 Milan should have had the lead in first half stoppage time as Kaka broke down the right and crossed for Inzaghi but his stooping header from three yards somehow drifted wide of the far post

Milan started the second half as they had ended the first, putting pressure on the leaders and their greater endeavour soon paid off.

Ambrosini had just headed an Andrea Pirlo comer over from close range before Kaka and Inzaghi combined once again, the Brazilian crossing for the Italian veteran to nod home at the near post from barely a yard out

That seemed to spark Inter into action and Maicon raced down the right but overbit his cross into the centre with both Julio Cruz and Hernan Crespo unmarked and waiting to pounce.

But France captain Patrick Vieira gifted Milan a second with a misplaced back-pass that Kaka gleefully accepted before firing low past Julio Cesar.

That seemed to snap Inter out of their lethargy and Portugal midfielder Maniche stung Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac's hands before the Milan stopper was out quickly to block from Crespo.

Kalac then had to tip over a long range effort from Brazilian fullback Maicon before Inter coach Roberto Mancini threw on a third striker in teenager Mario Balotelli for Maniche.

Inter piled on the pressure and with 14 minutes to play Cruz curled home a free-kick that left Kalac flat footed.

Milan held on grimly though and the title and Champions League qualification race will both goon for at least another week