Juventus win secures Champions League spot, Venezia relegated

Manuel Locatelli's penalty earned Juventus a 3-2 win at Venezia on Sunday to secure his side a Champions League spot and relegate the hosts, with Empoli also condemned to Serie B after a 2-1 loss at home to Hellas Verona.

Juventus end the season fourth in the standings, one point ahead of AS Roma, who have to settle for Europa League football despite a 2-0 win at Torino. Venezia finished second from bottom on 29 points, with Empoli 18th on 31.

Venezia had to win to have any chance of avoiding the drop, while Juventus also needed a victory to ensure fourth place, and the game lived up to its dramatic billing on the final day of the Serie A season.

The hosts had the perfect start, taking the lead in the second minute. Ridgeciano Haps played a one-two with Mikael Ellertsson before passing in to Daniel Fila who volleyed past Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.

A packed Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium was still celebrating when Alberto Costa rifled a shot into the Venezia net three minutes later but the goal was disallowed for handball.

A quick throw in from Andrea Cambiaso caught the Venezia defence napping and Kenan Yildiz drilled in a low shot which beat keeper Ionut Radu for a 25th-minute equaliser.

Six minutes later, a sloppy pass from Venezia at the back led to a scramble for the ball, which eventually fell to Randal Kolo Muani who made enough space for himself to take a shot which Radu again failed to keep out.

Haps made it 2-2 in the 55th minute but, with Roma ahead at Torino, Juventus had to win and when Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, on loan from Juve, pulled down Francisco Conceicao, captain Locatelli converted from the spot to net the winner 17 minutes from time.

In the end, even a win for Venezia would not have saved them from going