Milan edge Juve to secure top-four spot, Heidenheim earn last-gasp promotion

Milan secured their place in the Champions League next season with a 1-0 victory at Juventus as Olivier Giroud’s goal ensured a top-four finish in Serie A.

Fourth-placed Milan now hold a six-point advantage over fifth-placed Atalanta heading into the final round of matches. Juventus, who were docked 10 points for false accounting, sit in seventh place after a disappointing end to their home campaign.

Milan took the lead five minutes before the break when Giroud steered home a header inside the box. A tired-looking Juve side could not find an equaliser despite a late scramble in the penalty area, and were greeted by boos as the final whistle blew.

“Clearly, the Champions League gave us much more than we expected, and then we felt sad to go out in the semi-final against Inter, but our journey there was more than anyone saw coming,” Stefano Pioli told Dazn.

“At the same time, we did not do as well as expected in Serie A, but we are in the Champions League for the third season running,” the Milan head coach added.

Lazio moved back into second place after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic struck an 89th-minute winner against relegated Cremonese. The Serb got his first goal of the game in the 37th minute, doubling the hosts’ lead after Elseid Hysaj’s early opener.

Cremonese hit back from 2-0 down through Pablo Galdames and a Manuel Lazzari own goal, but Milinkovic-Savic wrapped up victory as Maurizio Sarri’s side moved back above Inter, who beat Atalanta 3-2 on Saturday.

Verona remain in the bottom three after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Empoli. They are now level with Spezia on 31 points with one game each to play; Hellas visit Milan on the final day, while Spezia visit Roma, who face Sevilla in the Europa