AC Milan are on course for their first win in five Serie A games as they lead Roma 1-0 at half time.
Roma almost took the lead in the first minute as Gervinho scampered down the left wing, but his low cross was hacked away by Gabriel Paletta.
Milan struggled in the early stages, but Keisuke Honda had the best chance of the opening few minutes and forced Morgan De Sanctis into an acrobatic save from inside the area.
The away side looked dangerous from set pieces and only the post stopped Kostas Manolas's header from creeping into the corner.
Roma controlled much of the first half, but Milan came back at them as it edged towards half time and De Sanctis was forced into another flying save to keep out a powerful header from Giacomo Bonaventura.
They maintained their pressure and found the breakthrough a few minutes later as Honda sprinted down the right and crossed for Marco van Ginkel to tap in.