Udinese fourth, Brescia relegated on final day

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 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 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 (June 14 and 18) to decide who joins Brescia and already-doomed 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 Milan, with Inter 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 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.

"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 equaliser, 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.

Siena were heading for the drop until Stefano Argilli struck nine minutes from the end to give the Tuscan side a 2-1 win over Atalanta.

Chievo were saved thanks to a goalless draw at Roma.

Fabio Capello's Juve celebrated their title with a entertaining 4-2 win over Cagliari with French forward David Trezeguet on target twice and Alessandro Del Piero and Stephen Appiah also scoring.

Romanian forward Adrian Mutu made his debut for Juve, returning to action after his seven-month ban from the game following a positive test for cocaine while a Chelsea player.

Mutu came on as a 57th minute substitute. The Romanian international signed a five-year deal with Juventus in January after he was sacked by Chelsea following the positive test in October but until Sunday he has only been able to train with Fabio Capello's side.

Former Italy international Gianfranco Zola scored twice for Cagliari in what could turn out to be his final game.

Serie A

Bologna 0
Sampdoria 0
Att: 15,000

Fiorentina 3
Brescia 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 44,000

Inter 0
Reggina 0
Att: 55,000

Juventus 4
Cagliari 2
HT: 1-0. Att: 35,000

Lecce 3
Parma 3
HT: 2-2. Att: 13,000

Messina 1
Livorno 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 29,000

Palermo 3
Lazio 3
HT: 1-1. Att: 35,000

Roma 0
Chievo 0
Att: 42,000

Siena 2
Atalanta 1
HT: 1-0. Att: 8,000

Udinese 1
Milan 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 24,000

Top Scorers

24 goals Lucarelli (Livorno)

23 goals Gilardino (Parma)

21 goals Montella (Roma)

20 goals Toni (Palermo)

19 goals Vucinic (Lecce)

17 goals Shevchenko (Milan)

Sunday's Fixtures

Catanzaro vs Verona
Cesena vs Ternana
Empoli vs Arezzo
Modena vs Treviso
Perugia vs Triestina
Pescara vs Crotone

Piacenza vs Genoa
Salernitana vs Ascoli
Torino vs AlbinoLeffe
Venezia vs Catania
Vicenza vs Bari

Serie C1

Promotion play-offs

(semi-finals - 1st legs)
A - Frosinone vs Mantova 2-4; Grosseto vs Pavia 1-1.
B - Reggiana vs Avellino 1-2; Sambenedettese vs Napoli 1-1.

Note: Second legs on Sunday.

Already promoted - Cremonese and Rimini.