ITALIAN SERIE A:THE BATTLE for the runners-up spot in will go to the wire after Juventus beat Siena while AC Milan came unstuck against Roma. In yesterday's penultimate round, Juve climbed into second with a 3-0 victory at Siena in what was Ciro Ferrara's first match in charge.
Former Juve defender Ferrara was brought in to replace Claudio Ranieri, who was sacked on Monday following a run of seven games without a win that had threatened their bid to qualify directly for next season’s Champions League. But Alessandro del Piero allayed those fears as he scored two and made another for Claudio Marchisio to wrap up victory.
Paolo Maldini’s final Serie A appearance at the San Siro ended on a losing note as Milan slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Roma.
The visitors twice lost the lead as Massimo Ambrosini scored a second-half brace before being sent off after Francesco Totti’s 85th-minute winner.
John Arne Riise and Jeremy Menez scored Roma’s first two.
Juve and Milan are all but assured of a place in the group stage of the Champions League as they sit three points clear of Fiorentina heading into the final round of fixtures.
The Viola could only manage a 1-1 draw at Lecce, a result which confirmed the hosts’ relegation.
Inter Milan’s title celebrations were dampened slightly by a 2-1 defeat to Cagliari.
