European champions AC Milan opened their league campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win at newly-promoted Ancona on Monday.

A goal in each half from Uk-rainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, scorer of the only goal in Milan's 1-0 European Super Cup win against Porto on Friday, secured the three points on a wet and windy night in north-east Italy.

The only sour note for Milan was the second-half sending-off of captain Paolo Maldini, who was shown the red card along with Ancona's Brazilian defender Alves da Silva Bilica after the two clashed.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti leapt to the defence of his captain who he felt was provoked into a scrap that had been brewing from the opening whistle.

"Everybody in the world knows Maldini. If he lost his patience I would say that it was instigated," he said.

Ancelotti, whose side finished third last season, singled out Shevchenko for special praise for providing the killer touch to Milan's attacks.

"He's in great form right now," he said. "He is a very important player and determined to succeed."

The match, delayed by 24 hours to give Milan an extra day of rest following Friday's match in Monaco began at a furious pace with Ancona dominating the early exchanges.

But for all their energy and possession, Ancona's failed to threaten in the final third of the pitch and the visitors slowly wrestled control of the game.

And they duly took the lead on the half hour thanks to Shevchenko, scorer of the decisive penalty in Milan's Champions League win over Juventus last season.

The former Dinamo Kyiv star took responsibility when Milan were awarded a free-kick 25-yards out and curled a right-foot shot round the wall and into the corner off the hands off of Ancona goalkeeper Alessio Scarpi.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men before Scarpi pulled off a brilliant double save to deny Martin Laursen and then Shevchenko.

Milan kept up the pressure and doubled their lead 14 minutes from time.

Brazilian summer signing Kaka, who was enjoying an impressive debut in Milan's midfield, drove forward purposefully and found compatriot Cafu out on the right. His angled pass was collected by Shevchenko who drew the goalkeeper before tucking the ball home with ease.

On Sunday David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero scored two goals apiece as reigning champions Juventus thumped Empoli 5-1 at the Delle Alpi stadium.

Inter Milan, runners-up last season, left it late before defeating a stubborn Modena side 2-0. Christian Vieri and Marco Materazzi scored in the final four minutes at the San Siro to secure the three points.

In other matches Lazio thrashed newly-promoted Lecce 4-1 and AS Roma, champions in 2001, won 2-1 away to Udinese.