European Round-up

SERIE A: Lazio and AC Milan secured places in the Champions League qualifying round after Empoli's defeat in Serie A yesterday.

Hernan Crespo scored a hat-trick to help champions Inter Milan to a 4-3 win over Lazio while Milan could manage only a 1-1 draw with Catania.

However, Empoli's 2-0 defeat at Siena means Lazio and Milan are now certain of finishing third or fourth with two rounds of matches left to play. Siena's victory lifted them out of the relegation places and they have been replaced by Chievo.

Ascoli, who beat Uefa Cup hopefuls Palermo 3-2, and Messina, who were beaten 4-1 by struggling Parma, were relegated.

The battle for a Uefa Cup spot rumbles on with Fiorentina now in pole position after they beat Cagliari 1-0 at home.

BUNDESLIGA: Stuttgart twice came from behind to beat Bochum 3-2 and go top of the German Bundesliga and within touching distance of the title.

Respective defeats for nearest rivals Schalke and Werder Bremen on the penultimate weekend of the season means Armin Veh's side now stands two points clear at the summit with just one game left to play.

Previous leaders Schalke are the only side who can snatch the title but it is now a big ask for the Gelsenkirchen outfit after their 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund.

Werder are now out of the title running after their 2-1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt who thus secured their top-flight status, while outgoing champions Bayern Munich consolidated their fourth-place finish with a 3-0 victory at Energie Cottbus.

Wolfsburg all but secured their top-flight status with a 2-2 draw at Alemannia Aachen. The result means, barring 14-goal victories, Aachen and Mainz will go down, despite Mainz's 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.