AC Milan kept the race for the Serie A title alive at least for another week thanks to a comfortable 2-0 win at Catania.
Filippo Inzaghi could have netted his third hat-trick in 2009 but had to settle for just one goal in the 27th minute to put the Rossoneri on their way to another three points which cut the gap to city rivals Inter Milan to seven points.
Kaka completed the scoring in the 51st minute on a day when Milan were rarely put under pressure by a disappointing Catania side who seemed to have lost all their motivation for the season having already all but mathematically secured their future in Serie A next season.
The teams emerged to a deluge after a warm and sunny day in Sicily turned cold and wet to coincide with kick-off.
Catania adjusted better to the conditions and went close to taking the lead in the seventh minute when Jorge Martinez's header was diverted onto his own post by Giuseppe Favalli.
However, that turned out to be the first and last chance the Rosazzurri could muster.
Milan on the other hand created enough chances to win several games, starting in the 11th minute when Paolo Maldini had his header cleared off the goal line by Mariano Izco after he met David Beckham's corner.
Minutes later, Inzaghi had his first chance of the game when Kaka sent in a low cross from the left, but the Milan striker never really had the ball under full control and his shot on the turn was weak.
He showed how dangerous he can be in the penalty area in the 27th minute, though, when he put Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead with a typically poached goal.
He poked the ball in from 10 yards out after being put through by Kaka for his 13th goal of the season, his 11th in the last eight games.
Inzaghi should have scored his 14th of the season when Andrea Pirlo lifted the ball up on a plate for him in the 40th minute, but he somehow managed to head the ball wide of the post from just four yards out when it seemed easier to score.
He then missed another chance when he slipped while well placed to meet a Gianluca Zambrotta cross.
Kaka doubled Milan's advantage earlier in the second half when he was on hand to tap the ball in when Beckham's header was parried by Tomas Kosicky.
Minutes later Inzaghi headed wide again, this time from a little further out.
And his third miss in the 62nd minute beggared belief as he contrived to lift the ball over the crossbar from just three yards out after meeting Kaka's low cross first.
Kosicky then pushed the next effort by Inzaghi onto the post before Kaka also hit the woodwork with a speculative shot from standing still.
Fortunately for Milan, their wastefulness did not matter since they had already built up enough of a lead to take home the points.
Catania have an 11-point cushion over the relegation zone and, despite this defeat, can plan for another season in the top flight of Italian football.
