Rome, 20 April (H.S.):

AC Milan and Juventus bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League with important victories in Italy’s top-flight Serie A on Sunday. With the season entering its final stretch, both clubs will now focus on securing their places in Europe’s elite competition.

AC Milan defeated Verona 1-0 away from home, with Adrien Rabiot scoring the only goal of the match. Rabiot won possession in midfield and combined effectively with Rafael Leao before finishing with precision. The victory gave Milan an eight-point lead over Como and Roma.

After the match, Rabiot said, “Winning was important, but we made several mistakes. We need to play better and keep our focus on Champions League qualification.”

Juventus also claimed a significant 2-0 victory over Bologna, with Jonathan David and Khéphren Thuram finding the net. The result kept Juventus firmly in the race for a top-four finish, leaving them just three points behind Milan.

Milan and Juventus benefited in this round after Como lost to Sassuolo, while Roma and Atalanta played out a draw. With only five matches remaining in the season, both teams are now very close to sealing Champions League spots.

AC Milan currently sit second in the table, and under head coach Massimiliano Allegri, the team has delivered a strong run of performances. Allegri has made clear that his full attention remains on Milan’s future plans.

Meanwhile, Verona’s fifth consecutive defeat has left their relegation almost certain. The club remains bottom of the table and is 10 points adrift of the safety zone.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar