Serie A: AC Milan beats Juventus 1-0 to secure spot in Champions League

AC Milan secured its spot in next season's Champions League by winning 1-0 at Juventus -- barring any off-field developments.

Olivier Giroud's goal late in the first half on Sunday was enough for Milan to secure a spot in the top four in Serie A as it left the Rossoneri six points above fifth-place Atalanta with just one match remaining.

Milan also moved eight points above Juventus. However, the Bianconeri could still appeal the 10-point penalty it was given for false accounting.

Coming into the match, Juventus was the only side that could possibly replace Milan in the top four in the Italian league.

But its hopes had imploded last week after the points deduction and a 4-1 loss at Empoli.

Milan knew a point would be enough and both sides had chances before Giroud broke the deadlock, five minutes before the break, when he peeled away from his marker to head Davide Calabria's cross into the far bottom corner.

Juventus almost snatched an equalizer late on as Danilo's volley from a c