Good evening and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the 2011/12 Serie A curtain-raiser as reigning champions Milan host Lazio!

They cannot. It's over. I believe Cassano was booked at the death, too. Strange. Good start to the Italian season, however, and a great result for Lazio - though it should have been much, much better.

Late corner for Milan! Can they steal it here?

Great sliding intrception sets Ibrahimovic free via Pato, but the stubborn back line deal with the danger.

Brocchi goes down rather easily under pressure from Pato to ease further pressure and win a free-kick. Pato is furious.

Abate's punt into the danger zone is headed back by Ibra to PATO! Blazed over. Should have done better there.

Gonzalez is unable to get into a one-on-one with Abbiati thanks to great defending by Silva, who wins a free kick in the end.

Matuzalem heads away Abate's early cross. We will have FIVE MINUTES of added time. Will we see a dramatic winner?

Ledesma goes for goal from a 40-plus-yard free-kick. To the shock of nobody, it doesn't come close to Abbiati's goal.

The Brazillian sub's cross from the right is headed away by Nesta. Not a single white shirt to be found in the box, anyway...

Final sub for Lazio - and for the contest - sees Hernanes make way for compatriot Matuzalem.

IBRA'S THROUGH! GREAT SAVE BY BIZZARRI! Pato was there for the square pass but unlike Cassano for the Swede's goal earlier, he wasn't picked out.

Ledesma sends Lulic sprinting down the left flank, but the Bosnian takes a heavy touch and knocks it off for a goal kick.

Gonzalez gets his shirt tugged. Defensive free-kick to Lazio. They won't rush this one...

A Lazio error allows Ibrahimovic through on the left, his low cross almost finds Cassano but for a vital interception by the fresh and alert Lulic.

Mauri was booked on his way off the pitch for taking an eternity. Golden sign number two. Abate's cross is well caught by Bizzarri. The right-back collided with Dias on delivery.

Mauri's impactful performance comes to an end, with Senad Lulic on in his place.

Bizzarri forces Ibrahimovic to close him down completely before picking up the ball at his feet. The golden sign of a team killing time.

More prolonged Milan possession, as Lazio appear to have entered flat back ten mode. Shame after such an electric first half but understandable in a way. Momentum is now against them and they've already blown a two-goal lead.

Final Milan sub coming up - can Pato play the role of impact sub? He has 15 minutes in place of Boateng.

Cassano feeds Ibra into the box, and despite two team-mates being free on the far side he goes for goal and shoots off-target.