All eyes were on Alessandro Nesta as he stepped back into the Stadio Olimpico for the first time since pulling on the Rossoneri shirt.
The die-hard fans held up a banner bemoaning the lack of a proper goodbye and during the game he was booed by a section of the supporters.
As there is a crucial Champions' League trip to Bayern Munich midweek Milan opted to rest Manuel Rui Costa and Andrea Pirlo in favour of Rivaldo's first Serie A start.
It was also a personal affair for the Inzaghi brothers as Filippo and younger sibling Simone faced off.
The opening goal, however, came from a wholly unexpected source. On six minutes Paolo Maldini rose to nod in a Rivaldo free kick and give Milan an early lead. The captain had also netted last week against Perugia and seems to have found a new lease of life this season.
Lazio fought back immediately and only a desperate Massimo Ambrosini clearance prevented Giuseppe Pancaro from scoring from close range. Soon after Stefano Fiore provided Dejan Stankovic with a magnificent backheel pass, but the Yugoslav was just offside.
Sinisa Mihajlovic has given Lazio a new dimension with his free kicks and when Dida failed to reach his set-piece Claudio Lopez volleyed inches over the bar.
There was controversy on 15 minutes when Simone Inzaghi was brought down on the edge of the box and Lucas Castroman scored, but the referee had already stopped play to award the free kick. On the resulting set-piece Jaap Stam's effort thumped the inside of the near post and went out again.
Simone Inzaghi really should have scored from close range on 23 minutes, but he hit the Lopez centre too hard.
Milan also had the opportunity to double their lead when Angelo Peruzzi was at full stretch to fingertip another Rivaldo free kick over the bar.
Carlo Ancelotti reintroduced Andrea Pirlo for the second half, but after Massimo Ambrosini's close-range effort was blocked it was Lazio who deservedly drew level.
Dario Simic was able to cut off Stankovic's run, but Claudio Lopez was left unmarked to turn in from six yards. This was the first goal conceded by Milan so far this season in Serie A.
Manuel Rui Costa was thrown on to return to the line-up that has done so well in recent weeks. The Rossoneri perked up and on 66 minutes Angelo Peruzzi made a stunning reaction save on Ambrosini's diving header.
Nesta was forced off twelve minutes from time - to a chorus of booing - due to cramp.
Both sides tried to win the game until the last minute, but there was controversy when Ambrosini was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Stankovic. Milan held on for their fifth consecutive draw in this Stadium.
Lazio: Peruzzi; Stam, Mihajlovic, Couto, Pancaro (Cesar 57); Castroman (Baggio 62), Giannichedda, Stankovic, Fiore (Corradi 78); S Inzaghi, Lopez
Milan: Dida; Simic, Nesta (Laursen 78), Maldini, Kaladze; Gattuso (Pirlo 46), Seedorf, Rivaldo, Ambrosini; F Inzaghi, Tomasson (Rui Costa 57)
Ref: Rosetti
Sent off: Ambrosini 89 (Milan)
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FootballItalia
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Did Sinisa manage to play well, too? Befor the match he was viewed as a weak-spot, was he or did he surprise?