Udinese moved back into fourth spot in Serie A and the final Champions League qualification place with a 2-1 victory over Lazio yesterday.
Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale was once again the hero as he scored both goals to give the northerners a two-point lead over Lazio and Roma in the race for fourth with two games to play.
Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin paid tribute to his young guns.
“This is the youngest team ever to be in a fight for a Champions League place,” said a jubilant Guidolin.
“Apart from (Giampiero) Pinzi and Di Natale, look at their dates of birth. That’s a great satisfaction for everyone.”
The result also meant that should Juventus beat Chievo tonight, they will be only three points off fourth place.
With Milan securing the scudetto crown on Saturday with a 0-0 draw at Roma, attentions yesterday turned to the other matters still to be decided.
Di Natale timed his run in behind the defence perfectly on 35 minutes to collect Alexis Sanchez’s lofted pass, control it and volley home from an angle.
And it was two on 42 minutes as Sanchez played Mauricio Isla behind the defence this time and he opted to square to his captain for a simple tap-in.
Things were made more complicated in the second period when Gabrielle Angella was sent off for bringing down Tommaso Rocchi in the box. However, Mauro Zarate curled an awful spot-kick straight into goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Fourteen minutes from time, Zarate crossed from the left and Libor Kozak stuck out a boot in a crowded penalty area to volley home and set up a tight finish.
Inter secured their passage directly into next season’s Champions League group stages with a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina.
Goals from Giampaolo Pazzini and Esteban Cambiasso, both set up by Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o, gave second-placed Inter a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Alberto Gilardino slotted the ball the wrong side of the post when one-on-one with goalkeeper Julio Cesar but then volleyed home after some neat control.
However, Brazilian starlet Coutinho curled home a late free-kick to make the points safe.
That left Inter 10 points clear of Udinese but Napoli still need another point to secure their place in the group stages after they lost 2-1 at Lecce.
Daniele Corvia had given Lecce the lead from the penalty spot on 49 minutes but then got himself sent off for a second yellow card.
Giuseppe Mascara equalised for Napoli before striker Edinson Cavani also saw red for a second booking. And Javier Chevanton sent the home fans wild with a stunning winner on the volley two minutes from time.
That win was enough to move Lecce out of the relegation zone, two points above Sampdoria who suffered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at city rivals Genoa last night.
Having finished fourth last season and qualified for the Champions League, Samp now have two matches to save their season and their Serie A status.
Brescia will join already relegated Bari in Serie B next season after their 2-1 defeat at home to Catania confirmed their drop. Samp’s loss meant Catania are safe, as are Parma, who drew 0-0 with Bologna.
Bologna and Cesena, who won 2-0 at Cagliari, need two more points to ensure their safety.
Serie A
Bologna 0
Parma 0
Att: 19,879.
Brescia 1
Diamanti 90;
Catania 2
Silvestre 27; Bergessio 75;
HT: 0-1. Att: 7,000.
Red card: Lanzafame (B) 79.
Cagliari 0
Cesena 2
Jimenez 54; Malonga 84;
HT: 0-0. Att: 5,000.
Genoa 2
Floro Flores 45; Boselli 90+;
Sampdoria 1
Pozzi 67;
HT: 1-0. Att: 45,000.
Red card: Mesto (G) 90.
Inter 3
Pazzini 25; Cambiasso 28; Coutinho 77;
Fiorentina 1
Gilardino 74;
HT: 2-0. Att: 40,000.
Lecce 2
Corvia 49 pen; Chevanton 88;
Napoli 1
Mascara 67;
HT: 0-0. Att: 14,400.
Red cards: Corvia (L) 55; Cavani (N) 74.
Udinese 2
Di Natale 35, 42;
Lazio 1
Kozak 75;
HT: 2-0. Att: 23,00.
Missed penalty: Zarate (L) 67.
Red card: Angella (U) 66.
Today (20.45)
Juventus vs Chievo (1-1)
Top scorers
28 goals: Di Natale (Udinese).
26 goals: Cavani (Napoli).
20 goals: Eto’o (Inter).
19 goals: Di Vaio (Bologna).
Next fixtures
Tomorrow: Coppa Italia SF, second leg 20.45 Palermo vs Milan.
Wednesday: Coppa Italia SF, second leg 20.45 Inter vs Roma.
Saturday: 18.00 Lazio vs Genoa. 20.45 Milan vs Cagliari.
Sunday: 12.30 Fiorentina vs Bologna. 15.00 Bari vs Lecce; Catania vs Roma; Cesena vs Brescia; Chievo vs Udinese; Parma vs Juventus; Sampdoria vs Palermo. 20.45 Napoli vs Inter.
Serie B
Reggina 1 - Varese 1
Prima Divisione ‘A’
Cremonese vs Bassano 0-0; Verona vs Lumezzane 1-0; Como vs Monza 2-4; Gubbio vs Paganese 3-1; Alto Adige vs Pavia 2-0; Ravenna vs Pergocrema 3-1; Reggiana vs Salernitana 0-1; Spezia vs Sorrento 2-1; Alessandria vs Spal 1-0.
Leading standings: Gubbio 65 (promoted); Sorrento 58; Alessandria 52; Salernitana 50; Verona 49; Spezia 47.
Prima Divisione ‘B’
Lanciano vs Barletta 0-0; Foligno vs Benevento 2-2; Andria vs Cavese 1-0; Atl. Roma vs Cosenza 4-1; Juve Stabia vs Lucchese 4-1; Gela vs Nocerina 2-1; Viareggio vs Pisa 1-1; Foggia vs Taranto 0-0; Siracusa vs Ternana 2-2.
Leading standings: Nocerina 71 (promoted); Benevento 60; Atl. Roma 56; Juve Stabia 54; Taranto 52; Foggia 45.