By Anita Kobylinska
(Reuters) – AC Milan’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League are hanging by a thread and their hopes of returning to Europe’s top club competition may now hinge on Juventus’s case and a potential new points deduction.
A new ruling in a case centred on Juve’s transfer dealings is expected on Monday after Italy’s top sports body in April cancelled a decision to dock the Turin club 15 points, ordering a new hearing.
Italian media report the new punishment is likely to be a nine-point deduction that could be applied to the current campaign or postponed until the 2023-24 season.
Should the punishment be enforced with immediate effect, Juventus would drop from second in Serie A on 69 points to behind AC Milan.
Milan, who were knocked out in the Champions League semis by neighbours Inter Milan on Tuesday, will hope this is the case, after another disappointing display in a shock 2-0 loss by lowly Spezia last weekend kept them fifth on 61 points.
They have won only two of their last seven league games and are four points off struggling Lazio, in fourth.
Lazio have themselves won only once within the past month but their previous unbeaten run of seven wins in eight games earned them some breathing space.
Milan, who host already-relegated Sampdoria on Saturday, need to win their three remaining games and hope one of the teams above them stumbles.
Sampdoria should pose a limited threat. They have gained 18 points so far and will end the campaign with their lowest Serie A points total since the league adopted three points for a win in 1994-95.
Juventus face a Europa League semi-final second leg trip to Sevilla on Thursday with the tie poised at 1-1.
A victory in the final would ensure a spot in next season’s Champions League and would push their top-four worries into the background.
“We only have to think about (what happens on) the pitch, it’s a game to play and the whole team wants to reach the final,” coach Massimiliano Allegri told a press conference ahead Thursday’s clash.
However, amid uncertainty over their situation, Juve will want to bag three points in Serie A when they travel to 14th-placed Empoli on Monday.
Juventus have won all five away matches against Empoli under Allegri.
Juve are unbeaten in their last four games (with three wins) and have won the joint most games against sides currently in the bottom half of the table this season (14, level with Napoli and Inter).
Champions Napoli host third-placed Inter Milan on Sunday when Lazio travel to 12th-placed Udinese.
Jose Mourinho’s sixth-placed AS Roma take on Salernitana at home on Monday.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Toby Davis)
