KAKHA Kaladze's magnificent 70th-minute strike earned AC Milan victory over Inter-Milan in a strangely subdued Serie A derby on Friday night.

The Champions League semi-finalists kept the title race alive with their 1-0 victory, four days before they face Barcelona at the San Siro in the first leg of their European tie.

Milan's win closes the gap on leaders Juventus at the top of the Serie A table to just four points and leaves Inter five points further adrift in third place. 

Juve went to Cagliari overnight (Singapore time), with no matches in Italy on Easter Sunday.

The derby result increases the pressure on Inter coach Roberto Mancini, who has been the target of criticism from the club's fans since his team were dumped out of the Champions League by Villarreal two weeks ago.

It was sweet revenge for Carlo Ancelotti's men, who were sunk by a last-gasp Adriano goal in the corresponding fixture in December.

The winning goal arrived when Clarence Seedorf dinked in a cross from the left which Georgia international Kaladze controlled superbly on his chest before sending a volley into the back of the net.

Esteban Cambiasso had a chance to snatch a point for Inter in the 88th minute but veteran defender Paolo Maldini snubbed out the threat.

Despite a 74,000 crowd there was an unusually subdued atmosphere in the San Siro, largely due to a boycott by Inter fans who left their section of the north stand largely empty.

The 'ultras' were protesting against a disappointing season and in place of the colourful flags that normally fill their sector, banners criticising the team were displayed in front of empty seating.

The derby came at the end of a troubled week for Inter.

In the early hours of last Sunday morning, two players - captain Javier Zanetti and midfielder Cristiano Zanetti - were attacked by fans at Milan's Malpensa airport.

Then on Thursday, Inter owner Massimo Moratti, who has been in charge of the club since 1995, said he was ready to listen to offers from potential buyers.

It took only 10 minutes for more bad news to reach Inter coach Roberto Mancini when Serbian defender Sinisa Mihajlovic limped off with a muscle problem and was replaced by Marco Materazzi.

Then on the hour, Inter's best chance was wasted by Figo, who was picked out by Dejan Stankovic but produced a poor header that went harmlessly wide.

Milan rarely looked in trouble after Kaladze's goal.