Last Day Deciders: Part 2 of 3 - Champions League Spot - Friday, 16 May 2008

The illusive Champions league 4th spot has been up for grabs for much of the season, with Fiorentina the closest to claiming it as their own. The disastrous first half of the season by AC Milan had allowed the position in the "Big four" to be occupied, and La Viola duly obliged. This was a year when many of their players really came to prominence, notably Franco Semioli, Riccardo Montolivo, and Adrian Mutu. Their position in 4th even looked safe through until mid-February, but the resurgence of Milan combined with Fiorentina's lack of a consistent out-and-out goalscorer, as both Pazzini and Vieri struggled.

Meanwhile, AC Milan, after taking until January 13th to register a home win, found an upturn in form that coincided with Pato's elligibility to play, and continued by Filippo Inzaghi's excellent end to the campaign. The team has suffered in confidence this season, and become a Jekyll and Hyde team. Indeed, there can be no better metaphor for the whole second half of the season, than Milan's excellent victory over rivals Inter, and their subsequent 3-1 defeat against Napoli when they could have cemented the Champions League place.

It would cement the Serie A status quo should the Rossoneri sneak into Europe's premier competition. Fiorentina on the other hand will have over-performed slightly should they win that prize. Milan face Udinese at the San Siro, and will be expected to be too strong for the Bianconeri. Fiorentina meanwhile will face a Torino side who are now free of the danger of relegation. Come sunday evening, it will therefore depend a lot on how il Toro approach the game, but it could be the case that Milan have shot themselves in the foot one too many times.

Champions League spot verdict: Fiorentina

Tim D