Juventus qualified for the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League on the final day of the Serie A season with a comfortable 4-1 win over Bologna and joined the Rossoneri in the top 4 as Milan beat Atalanta 2-0.
Napoli failed to beat Hellas Verona as they drew 1-1 to miss out on a Champions League spot for next season. Gennaro Gattuso has left the head coaching role in Naples and the club is now looking for a successor.
Gli Azzurri have to settle for a UEFA Europa League spot for next season as they finished fifth in the end, one point behind Juventus in 4th, after their 1-1 draw.
Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie bagged a brace for Milan to lead them to victory over Atalanta who had already secured a Champions League spot a few weeks ago.
The young midfielder scored a penalty in the first and second half to secure the win that confirmed their qualification for next season’s premier European club football competition.
“We deserved the Champions League as well as second place”, said AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli.
“We went through the whole championship at the top, unfortunately, we had thrown away the match point last Sunday (against Cagliari).
“I’m really excited, happy. I have to thank the club because they made us work in a spectacular way.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench by Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo, who opted for Paulo Dybala alongside Alvaro Morata in the attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Juventus is unsure. (Photo by Danilo Di Giovanni/Getty Images)
“It was a shared choice. Ronaldo was tired after the fatigue on Wednesday”, said Pirlo.
“He made himself available to the team but I chose to have another player named Morata play, who is not the latest arrival. I have a quality team with many choices available.”
Morata scored twice as Federico Chiesa and Adrien Rabiot also found the back of the net as Juventus comfortably won their game.
In Bergamo, Milan held onto a massive victory after a nervy game as the Rossoneri were without Ibrahimovic yet again. Kessie was superb once again in what has been a terrific season for him.
Lazio will be joining Napoli in next season’s Europa League. Roma will be seen in the all-new UEFA Europa Conference League, which means Jose Mourinho’s first challenge will be to win the inaugural third-division European cup.
