Champions League beckons for Lazio, Milan

MILAN, May 10 (Reuters) Lazio and AC Milan will book their places in next season's Champions League qualifying round if they manage victories in Serie A on Sunday.

Milan face inconsistent Catania and look to have the easier task in securing a top four finish with third-placed Lazio visiting recently-crowned champions Inter Milan.

Inter, who have already bagged one of the two automatic Champion League spots along with second-placed AS Roma, are carrying a number of injuries though and will have been shaken by their 6-2 loss to Roma in the Italian Cup final first leg yesterday.

Milan, who are again expected to be without injured striker Ronaldo, looked jaded in the 0-0 draw with Fiorentina last weekend which followed their Champions League semi-final win over Manchester United.

Carlo Ancelotti's men would rather qualify for next season's competition by beating Liverpool in the Athens final on May 23 but a victory over Catania would give them a safety net.

The match will be played in Bologna as Catania are still banned from playing matches at home following the death of a policeman in riots after February's game with Palermo.

However, fans will be allowed in the stadium for the first time on Sunday after a ruling by the Italian football authorities on Tuesday.

Catania will welcome the support of their fans in their bid against the drop, with a host of teams battling to avoid the remaining relegation place with three rounds of matches left.

Ascoli and Messina went down last Sunday and Siena currently occupy the third relegation spot with 34 points.

Siena host the season's surprise package Empoli, who will be keen to exploit any slip-ups from Lazio or Milan in their unlikely chase for a Champions League place.

Empoli, in fifth, are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Milan but a point above Palermo and two ahead of Fiorentina, who fill the other two UEFA Cup spots.

A stuttering Palermo visit Ascoli while Fiorentina, again set to be without striker Luca Toni because of a foot problem, entertain Cagliari.

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