The pressure increased on AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti as his side fell to their second consecutive Serie A defeat, losing at Genoa on Sunday.
A goal from Giuseppe Sculli after half an hour and a penalty from the returning Diego Milito in second-half injury time decided the game in favor of a lively home team who, like Milan, had spent a lot of money in the transfer market this summer, but appear to be getting a better return on their investment.
A tired Ronaldinho and disorientated Andriy Shevchenko lasted just 45 minutes as Milan's star ensemble, including a subdued Kaka, failed to impress once again, leaving Ancelotti struggling to find any more excuses for his side's abject start to the season.
The central characters of the summer transfer market were on display at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday.
Home team Genoa welcomed Milito back after spending the last three years with Real Zaragoza while Ancelotti named Shevchenko and Ronaldinho in his starting XI, which also included Kaka for the first time this season.
Genoa showed enough respect, but no fear as they attacked from the outset, going close through Sculli and Andrea Gasbarroni inside the first 10 minutes.
All Milan could muster in a disappointing first half for them was a couple of chances from Kaka.
In the 18th minute, he was allowed to run half the length of the field and into the box before a hitting a weak left-footed shot into the side-netting. Just before half time, he sent a 20-yard shot over the crossbar.
The rest of the half belonged to the home side, who deservedly went ahead after half an hour through Sculli.
Ivan Juric lifted the ball into the penalty area where Milito cushioned a pass to Sculli with his chest, and the Genoa forward kept his composure to provide the finish into the bottom corner of Christian Abbiati's goal.
The Rossoblu could have led by two just before half time when Milito cut in from the left and tested Abbiati with a low shot to his near post.
Ancelotti was clearly not happy with what he had witnessed and replaced Shevchenko and Ronaldinho with Clarence Seedorf and Marco Borriello at half-time.
Borriello, who was Serie A's second highest scorer last season while on loan at Genoa, was given a warm reception from all four corners of the Luigi Ferraris as he made his first appearance of the season in a Milan shirt.
That applause would probably have turned to jeers had his first shot on the hour mark been better placed, but the signs were there of a Milan revival.
Sculli could have stifled that when he broke clear to draw an excellent save out of Abbiati.
Alexandre Pato was the final throw of the dice for Ancelotti as he replaced Mathieu Flamini with 20 minutes remaining.
And he went closest to an equalizer in the 83rd minute with Rubinho making a fine reaction save to deny the young Brazilian before Milito sealed the win in stoppage time.
The man known locally as the Prince, il Principe, was fouled by Paolo Maldini and stepped up to beat Abbiati and earn a thoroughly deserved win for Genoa.
