MILAN, 30 May 2005 — Udinese claimed fourth place and Brescia were relegated on a nailbiting final day of the Serie A season yesterday.
Parma and Bologna will have to play off to avoid relegation after a dramatic battle against the drop involving nine teams.
Udinese drew 1-1 at home with AC Milan to earn a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time.
Sampdoria, who finished a point behind in fifth following a goalless draw at Bologna, go into the UEFA Cup along with sixth-placed Palermo and Roma, who qualify via the Italian Cup.
At the foot of the table Brescia were relegated after a 3-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Fiorentina, who secured top flight football with the win.
Fiorentina finished on 42 points along with Parma, who drew 3-3 at Lecce, and Bologna.
The Florence club are saved via a better head-to-head record against the other two clubs who will now meet over two legs to decide who joins Brescia and already-relegated Atalanta in Serie B.
Champions Juventus closed a season which brought their 28th title by beating Cagliari 4-2 at the Delle Alpi stadium. They finished on 86 points, seven clear of AC Milan, with Inter Milan a further seven back in third after they drew 0-0 at home to Reggina. Udinese, now able to look forward to a debut appearance in the Champions League, took the lead through a fine David Di Michele solo goal in the 56th minute but Brazilian Serginho earned Milan a point five minutes from the end.
Milan rested several first-team regulars after their Champions League final defeat on penalties to Liverpool on Wednesday — a result which was celebrated by Inter fans at the San Siro with banners and songs mocking the misfortune of their city rivals.
The real drama was at the foot of the table, however, with six clubs breathing a sigh of relief, despair for Brescia, whose five-season run in the top flight came to an end, and continuing tension for the fans of Parma and Bologna.
A 40,000 capacity crowd turned out in Florence where Fiorentina, who had fought their way back from Serie C2 following their relegation and bankruptcy in 2002, avoided the drop with a determined 3-0 victory.
Fabrizio Miccoli put the Viola ahead with a penalty two minutes before the break and then Danish midfielder Martin Jorgensen and striker Christian Rigano, who has been with the club since their season in Serie C2, completed the win with a 66th minute header.
“We deserved it after playing good football for the past two months,” said Fiorentina coach Dino Zoff.
Parma’s run of 15 seasons in Serie A remains in the balance after a six-goal thriller at Lecce. The UEFA Cup semi-finalists had their top scorer Alberto Gilardino to thank once again as he grabbed the equalizer, to make it 3-3, with a stunning overhead kick in the 56th minute.
Without that point Parma would have been relegated automatically. Now the club who have been in difficulty since their former backers, dairy company Parmalat, hit financial trouble, have two games against Bologna to fight for their survival.
