AC Milan, Juventus Seal Champions League Spots

AC Milan secured a long-awaited return to the Champions League on Sunday as two Franck Kessie penalties earned a 2-0 win over Atalanta to seal a second-place finish on the final day of the Serie A season.

The victory saw Milan climb one point above the Bergamo club in the standings to 79 points behind champions Inter Milan.

Milan led the Serie A standings until mid-February, but a subsequent dip in form left them at risk of falling out of the top-four on the final day if they failed to win.

Kessie showed great composure to score from the spot shortly before the break and in second-half stoppage time when Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon was sent off.

The victory means the seven-time European champions will play Champions League football for the first time since 2013-14 next season.

Juventus Secure Champions League Qualification

Juventus climbed into the top four on the final day of the Serie A season to secure a Champions League qualification after the Turin club beat Bologna 4-1 and other results went their way.

Andrea Pirlo’s Juve side moved one point above Napoli into fourth place as Gennaro Gattuso's team could only muster a 1-1 draw with mid-table Hellas Verona.

Serie A top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was surprisingly left on the bench for the crucial game, but Juve made a fast start in his absence as Federico Chiesa put them in front after five minutes.

Alvaro Morata and Adrien Rabiot struck before halftime to put the result beyond doubt and Morata doubled his tally early in the second half before Riccardo Orsolini pulled one back late on.