Rome  - Young Brazilian Pato opened the Serie A season with a brace that Saturday helped AC Milan win 2-1 away to Tuscany underdogs Siena.

At Siena's Artemio Franchi stadium, the striker, who turns 20 in early September, missed a first chance on 10 minutes promptly volleying a loose ball, but seeing his dangerous shot deflected by a defender.

His compatriot Ronaldinho displayed good form and tactic skills when on 19 minutes he set up Czech defender Marek Jankulovski for a close-range effort well saved by the onrushing Gianluca Curci.

After firing a feeble volley from outside the box, Dinho on 29 minutes provided a defence-splitting assist for his young striking mate who fired a winning shot past the diving Curci.

Siena had produced a good pressing early in the game and resumed their attacks managing to equalize five minutes later through a flick from their French forward Abdelkader Ghezzal as the guests' defence dithered on an attack from the left flank.

Milan took again the lead after the break, when the inspired Dinho sent away Frenchman Mathieu Flamini who squared for Pato's flick before the gaping mouth for a goal very similar to Ghezzal's.

Dinho tried to score himself on 68 minutes coming very close with a classy overhead kick that Curci managed to slap above the bar.

As Milan controlled the game without running major risks, a yellow card received for insulting a linesman marred the day for Pato in the dying minutes.

In earlier Saturday action, hosts Bologna and Fiorentina drew 1-1 with a goal from Argentine Pablo Osvaldo being levelled by Romanian Adrian Mutu for the visitors.

The Serie A first round continues Sunday afternoon when champions Inter Milan take on promoted Bari before Juventus welcome Chievo in an evening game. (dpa)