Never say die
Piatek and Suso keep Milan’s Champs League hopes alive
ROME: Krzysztof Piatek and Suso struck in the second half as AC Milan kept their Champions League hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-0 win over relegated Frosinone.
Polish striker Piatek got back scoring after 57 minutes in the San Siro on Sunday with Spanish winger Suso adding a second nine minutes later as Milan move equal on points with Alatanta, who drew 1-1 with champions Juventus.
Juventus and second-placed Napoli are already through to the Champions League next season with Inter Milan fourth on 66 points.
Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a Camillo Ciano penalty before Piatek broke his five-match scoring drought with his 22nd goal this season.
It allowed Milan to take control of the match with Suso’s pin-perfect free-kick settling the matter for Gattuso’s side.
“We had a scare, we can thank Gianluigi Donnarumma who kept us in the game,” said Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Milan are at least assured of a place in next season’s Europa League, along with Roma, who were held to a goalless draw at Sassuolo on Saturday.
The two teams benefited from Torino’s shock 4-1 defeat at Empoli, which ended the northerners’ European hopes.
Torino remain seventh and cannot catch Roma who are just ahead and have won both their clashes this season.
Lazio, in eighth, are sure of playing in the Europa League group stages thanks to their Italian Cup victory.
Empoli moved out of the relegation zone at the expense of Genoa, who were held 1-1 by Cagliari, and are now 18th with future depending on next week’s game against Fiorentina, themselves just three points off the drop zone.