Accustomed to fighting for the game’s biggest honours, Inter and Milan finds themselves in a seven-team scrap for a place in the unloved Europa League as their patchy Serie A campaigns draw to a close.

Seven-times European champions Milan host bottom club Catania tomorrow and are in the strange position of being in with a shout of a Europa League spot despite languishing in 11th place, after a bizarre season that has cost them one manager and featured infighting behind the scenes.

Clarence Seedorf, who won two Champions Leagues with the club as a player, has had a rocky ride since taking over as coach from Massimiliano Allegri in January.

But an upturn in form – his side have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 and have won three on the bounce – have left Milan five points behind fifth-placed Inter who have only picked up three points over the same period.

They also have a much easier run-in than Inter, with three of their final six matches at home to the current bottom three.

“The atmosphere has improved a lot, and winning helps. Good results help everyone, coaches, players, directors and fans,” said Adriano Galliani, who is one of Milan’s two CEOs alongside Barbara Berlusconi.

Tomorrow, Inter travel to Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Sampdoria, who have been a tough proposition since the Serb arrived in late November.

Their final six games are significantly tougher too.

After Sampdoria Inter travel to Parma, with whom they are level on 50 points, and they also have to face third-placed Napoli and Lazio, who are two points behind them in seventh, at the San Siro.

There is also the small matter of the Milan derby on Sunday, May 4, in which they are the nominal away side.

Walter Mazzarri’s side currently occupy the second and last Europa League spot, although a sixth-place finish could offer a slot in the competition.

Both Fiorentina, who lie five points ahead of Inter in fourth, and Napoli contest the Italian Cup final in May. The cup offers a place in the Europa League and both sides are almost certain to finish in the European places, meaning that sixth place will take the last spot.

This opens up the race to a host of clubs, including Milan.

However they will have to get past Parma, Lazio, Verona, Atalanta and Torino, all of who are sandwiched between Inter and Milan.

World Cup hopeful Mattia Destro has put title-chasing Roma under a cloud after receiving a three-game ban for being caught by cameras punching Cagliari defender Davide Astori during Sunday’s 3-1 win in Sardinia.

Destro scored a hat-trick in a win that temporarily brought them five points behind league leaders Juventus, who then beat Livorno and travel to Udinese on Monday.

Second-placed Roma host Atalanta at the Olympic Stadium, this evening.

On Thursday, Juventus sealed their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a hard-earned 2-1 win in Turin against Ligue 1 club Lyon. Juve went through 3-1 on aggregate.

Third-place Napoli will be looking to make amends for their 1-0 defeat at Parma last time out when they host European hopefuls Lazio.

That reverse dropped Napoli 12 points adrift of Roma.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing Today
Sassuolo vs Cagliari 18.00
Roma vs Atalanta 20.45

Tomorrow
Bologna vs Parma 12.30
Livorno vs Chievo
Napoli vs Lazio
Sampdoria vs Inter
Torino vs Genoa
Milan vs Catania 20.45
Verona vs Fiorentina

Monday
Udinese vs Juventus 20.45

Standings: Juventus 84; Roma 76; Napoli 64; Fiorentina 55; Inter, Parma 50; Lazio 48; Atalanta, Verona 46; Torino, Milan 45; Sampdoria 41; Genoa 39; Udinese 38; Cagliari 32; Chievo, Bologna 27; Livorno 25; Sassuolo 24; Catania 20.

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Cesena vs Spezia 0-2

Today – 15.00
Avellino vs Brescia
Crotone vs Carpi
Empoli vs Ternana
Latina vs Novara
Modena vs Juve Stabia
Pescara vs Cittadella
Siena vs Lanciano
Trapani vs Palermo
Varese vs Bari

Tomorrow
Padova vs Reggina 12.30

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