AC Milan clinched the third automatic Champions League place after comfortably winning 2-0 at fourth-placed Fiorentina on a day of goodbyes for Serie A on Sunday.
Brazilians Kaka and Alexandre Pato netted in the second half in Paolo Maldini’s last game before retirement and the final match in charge for Carlo Ancelotti, who has joined Chelsea.
“Today is the moment to say thanks because this club has given me eight splendid years,” Ancelotti told reporters.
PHOTO: EPA
The match was also David Beckham’s last for Milan until at least the end of the year. He plans to return to the San Siro from parent club Los Angeles Galaxy if a deal is reached.
Fiorentina could have snatched third spot with a handsome win, which would have put them level with Milan but with a better head-to-head record, but instead they will have to settle for the Champions League qualifiers next term.
The final day of the season was kinder to Juventus, who beat Lazio 2-0 thanks to Vincenzo Iaquinta’s double and finished second.
The win boosts coach Ciro Ferrara’s hopes of being given the job full time following Claudio Ranieri’s recent sacking.
Chief executive Jean Claude Blanc said they would take their time deciding on a replacement. Bari’s Antonio Conte and Bordeaux’s Laurent Blanc have been linked with the job in the media.
Pavel Nedved, playing against his former side, received a standing ovation on his final game for the Turin club.
The Czech winger, 36, was quoted by some media as saying he was now definitely retiring having earlier left the door slightly open for a move to another side.
The city’s other club, Torino, had a dreadful day in contrast and were relegated after three seasons in Serie A.
They lost 3-2 at AS Roma and will be reacquainted with already relegated Reggina and Lecce in Serie B next term.
The sloppy defeat, typical of an inconsistent season, meant Bologna were safe irrespective of their 3-1 win over Catania.
Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended up as Serie A’s top scorer with 25 goals after netting twice as the recently crowned champions won 4-3 at home to Atalanta.
Inter’s retiring winger Luis Figo said a definite goodbye to the San Siro when he was substituted just before the break.
In other games it was:
• Udinese 6, Cagliari 2
• Reggina 1, Siena 1
• Palermo 2, Sampdoria 2
• Genoa 4, Lecce 1
• Napoli 3, Chievo Verona 0
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
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