AC Milan have emphatically enhanced their Champions League hopes at the expense of Juventus, thumping their Serie A hosts 3-0 in Turin.
Milan jumped up to third while Juve slipped to fifth on the same same weekend that the Bianconeri insisted on forging ahead with a European Super League competition that would guarantee them a spot among elite clubs.
Juventus, who had their nine-year grip on the Serie A title ended by Inter Milan last weekend, slipped out of the Champions League qualifying positions - a points behind fourth-place Napoli with three rounds remaining.
Juve, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, stepped up criticism of UEFA on Saturday, denouncing "threats" for their refusal to back down on the prospect of a breakaway competition.
The other nine clubs who formed the ill-fated Super League three weeks ago accepted a settlement on Friday to be fined by UEFA and stay within the open Champions League structure.
Milan were one of those clubs and the win boosted its chances of getting back into the Champions League as the Rossoneri sit level on points with second-place Atalanta, who won 5-2 at Parma.
Milan broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time at Juve after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's tepid punch to clear a free kick allowed Brahim Diaz to control the ball and cut inside before curling an effort into the top right corner.
Szczesny made up for his error by saving Franck Kessie's spot kick on 58 minutes but he could not prevent Milan doubling their lead in the 78th as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's replacement Ante Rebic unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike into the top right corner.
Milan sealed the result four minutes later when Fikayo Tomori headed in a free kick for his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Chelsea in January.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini's half-time changes had an immediate impact against already-relegated Parma with substitute Luis Muriel scoring twice after the break.
Cagliari took a potentially decisive step towards safety with a 3-1 win at 18th-place Benevento, pushing their opponents closer to a swift return to Serie B.
Torino are level on points with Cagliari, having played a match less, after drawing 1-1 at Hellas Verona.
Genoa is only five points above the drop after losing 2-1 at home to Sassuolo.
Elsewhere, sevent-place Roma crushed already-relegated bottom side Crotone 5-0.
Australian Associated Press
