(Reuters) – AC Milan secured a long-awaited return to the Champions League on Sunday as two Franck Kessie penalties earned a 2-0 win over Atalanta to seal a second-place finish on the final day of the Serie A season.
The victory saw Milan climb one point above the Bergamo club in the standings to 79 points behind champions Inter Milan.
Milan led the Serie A standings until mid-February, but a subsequent dip in form left them at risk of falling out of the top-four on the final day if they failed to win.
Kessie showed great composure to score from the spot shortly before the break and in second-half stoppage time, when Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon was sent off.
The victory means the seven-time European champions will play Champions League football for the first time since 2013-14 next season.
(Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie; Editing by Ken Ferris)
