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Serie A round-up

Udinese qualified for the UEFA Champions League on the final day of the season.

Inter warm up in style; Chievo also record a convincing win

Udinese qualified for the UEFA Champions League on the final day of the season, Roma booked a Europa League spot, and Inter Milan warmed up for the Coppa Italia. Udinese qualified for the Champions League for only the second time in their history after a 0-0 draw at home to AC Milan ensured they took fourth place. The draw allowed Udinese to match their achievement from 2005 when they also finished fourth, while Lazio missed out on Europe's premier club competition on the head-to-head rule and Roma qualified for the Europa League at Juventus' expense. Lazio's 4-2 victory at 10-man Lecce was not enough to take fourth spot. They twice saw their lead cancelled out, with Manuel Coppola and Ignacio Piatti replying to goals from Tommaso Rocchi and Mauro Zarate. The dismissal of Massimiliano Benassi seven minutes after the interval proved the turning point, though, with Zarate putting away a penalty awarded for the goalkeeper's challenge on Rocchi. A Giuseppe Vives own goal then made certain of the win after 63 minutes. Roma coach Vincenzo Montella led the team to an end-of-season victory over Sampdoria in what could have been his last game in charge of the capital city club. Daniele Mannini put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute before Roma captain Francesco Totti equalised on the half-hour mark. Mirko Vucinic put Roma in front for the first time in the 70th minute before team-mate Marco Borriello made it 3-1 four minutes from time. The result allowed Roma to finish sixth in the standings, three points behind city rivals Lazio and five points clear of Juventus. Juventus twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Champions League qualifiers Napoli. Goals from Christian Maggio and Cristiano Lucarelli had given the visitors the lead on two occasions but Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Matri levelled the scores. The result means Juventus finish seventh while Napoli had already made sure of third place with only the Milan duo finishing above them. Giampaolo Pazzini scored twice in Inter's 3-1 win over Catania, with the first after 15 minutes and again three minutes into the second period, before Yuto Nagatomo added a third in the 63rd minute. Pablo Ledesma pulled one back for Catania three minutes later but it was a deserved win for the hosts.

Convincing winners

Chievo were also convincing 3-1 winners at Palermo, who will face Inter in the cup final next week. After conceding early to Antonio Nocerino, the visitors won it with goals from Sergio Pellissier, Kevin Constant and Nico Pulzetti. Youngster Francesco Grandolfo scored a hat-trick on his first Serie A start as relegated Bari signed off in style with a 4-0 victory at Bologna. Erik Huseklepp was also on target for Bari in only their fifth success of the season. Brescia waved farewell to the top flight with a battling 2-2 draw at home to Fiorentina. Juan Vargas put the visitors in front in the second minute only for Citadin Eder to level in the 18th minute. Alessio Cerci put Fiorentina back in front 15 minutes from time, but Brescia continued fighting and snatched a point courtesy of Pietro Accardi's 87th minute effort. Cesena coach Massimo Ficcadenti had a disappointing end to his tenure with a 3-2 defeat at Genoa. Having already secured their Serie A status, the club announced earlier this week that Ficcadenti would not sign a contract extension when his current deal ends in June. The Cesena boss could only watch on at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium as his side conceded three first-half goals to Antonio Floro Flores, who scored twice, and Rodrigo Palacio. And although Erjon Bogdani and Luis Jimenez replied after the interval, the visitors could not complete the comeback. A Rolf Feltscher own goal earned Cagliari a 1-1 draw at home to Parma. Valeri Bojinov fired Parma into a 34th minute lead at the Stadio San Elia, but Feltscher's unfortunate headed own goal 10 minutes into the second half meant the home side had to settle for a point.

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