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Serie A round-up: Fiorentina qualify for Europa League, AC Milan beat Torino

PALERMO, ITALY - MAY 24: Alberto Gilardino of Fiorentina celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A match between US Citta di Paler
Image: Alberto Gilardino of Fiorentina celebrates scoring against Palermo.

Fiorentina qualified for the Europa League after holding on to beat Palermo 3-2 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Early goals from Josip Ilicic and Alberto Gilardino sandwiched a Mato Jajalo strike for Palermo, meaning the visitors controlled fifth place heading into half-time.

They had to negotiate a fightback in the second half as Luca Rigoni drew the Rosanero level, before Marcos Alonso rubber-stamped all three points and a guaranteed top-six finish in Serie A.

Jasmin Kurtic was sent off for picking up his second yellow card in stoppage time, but mid-table Palermo had no time to respond.

Earlier on Sunday, substitute Samuel Eto'o struck a last-gasp equaliser at Empoli but it was not enough as Sampdoria's hopes of playing in Europe ended with a 1-1 draw.

Manuel Pucciarelli gave Empoli a deserved lead after team-mate Matias Vecino had been denied by the crossbar before the break.

Eto'o pulled Samp level in stoppage time but the visitors could not find the winner.

Veteran Hellas Verona hitman Luca Toni is well-placed to finish the season as the league's top scorer after hitting a brace to deny Parma one last home victory before relegation.

Luca Toni of Hellas Verona FC celebrates his second goal during the Serie A match between Parma FC and Hellas Verona FC
Image: Luca Toni scored twice against Parma.

First-half goals from Antonio Nocerino and Silvestre Varela set Parma on a course to appease fans with a rare three-point haul at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, but 37-year-old Toni had other ideas.

He reached the 20-goal mark with a header just before half-time and pulled one goal clear of both Juventus' Carlos Tevez and Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan when making it 2-2 from the penalty spot 10 minutes from time.

Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as AC Milan recaptured some of their fading flair with a 3-0 victory over Torino at San Siro.

Injuries and a chronic run of bad form have pushed El Shaarawy onto the margins of the first team during another disappointing season, so his first goal in almost seven months represented an encouraging tonic.

Stephan El Shaarawy (2nd L) of AC Milan celebrates the opening goal with team mates during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino
Image: AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy (2nd L) celebrates finding the net against Torino.

Giampaolo Pazzini's penalty and another clinical finish from El Shaarawy propelled Milan beyond ninth-placed Torino, who despite several poor recent results sit two points in front of their hosts in the table.

The dismissals of Cristian Zaccardo and Cristian Molinaro meant each side finished the game with 10 men and there was even space for Milan academy captain Alessandro Mastalli to make his debut from the bench.

Sassuolo defeated Udinese, who lost Guilherme to a late red card, 1-0 to continue their strong finish to the season.

Francesco Magnanelli struck the only goal of the contest at the Stadio Friuli and Sassuolo held on for their third straight victory.

Chievo remain unbeaten at home since February 2 after finding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 against Atalanta.

The Flying Donkeys trailed 1-0 after Atalanta striker Alejandro Gomez's early second-half strike, but substitute Sergio Pellissier dragged the hosts level at the death.

Elsewhere, a last-gasp winner from substitute Marco Sau lifted Cagliari to a 1-0 victory over fellow relegated club Cesena.

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