ROME - AC MILAN kept their slim title hopes alive with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Catania on Sunday courtesy of goals from Filippo Inzaghi and Kaka.

Veteran Inzaghi's strike took his record to 11 goals in his last eight matches while Kaka's strike was his 15th of the season in Serie A and followed up a pair of penalties last weekend against Palermo.

The victory reduced Inter Milan's lead at the top of Serie A to seven points but, with just four matches left, second-placed Milan would need their city rivals to suffer a spectacular collapse to win a first scudetto since 2004.

Third-placed Juventus's hopes all but mathematically ended as substitute Jose Ignacio Castillo scored an equaliser deep into injury time for relegation-threatened Lecce in a 2-2 draw in Turin.

In Sicily it was plain-sailing for Milan who opened the scoring on 27 minutes after former world player of the year Kaka burst into the area and then teed up Inzaghi for a typical poacher's finish.

Milan then sealed the match seven minutes into the second period as Kaka swept home the loose ball after Lecce goalkeeper Tomas Kosicky pushed out David Beckham's header.

It was Milan's fifth win in a row and also took their tally to 21 goals in their last eight matches.

But even so, coach Carlo Ancelotti had to fend off speculation about his future after the match, responding ironically to suggestions he will join Roman Abramovich's Chelsea in the summer.

'Abramovich's yacht isn't in Taormina (a well-known marina in Sicliy) but pay attention because the Chelsea owner is coming to fetch me by helicopter so keep your eyes on the sky,' he said, before then angrily denying that Brazil star Ronaldinho, an unused substitute, would also be leaving.

'Next year he will still be at Milan and if that's what I say, that's the way it will be. I've been asked this same question all season long, well now there's only four more Sunday's to reply to it.' -- AFP