Kessie seals Champions League return for AC Milan
Franck Kessie's penalties gave Milan a 2-0 victory that secured its return to the Champions League after a seven-season absence as Atalanta finished with 10 men.
Milan led the way in the Scudetto race until February but fell off the pace and went into the final weekend knowing that defeat could see them slip to fifth and miss out on a place in Europe's premier club competition.
It showed little desire to attack Atalanta, who were already guaranteed to finish in the top four, but moved ahead two minutes before half-time thanks to Kessie's first spot-kick.
Marten de Roon was shown a red card – a little shove on the referee in response could land him in further bother – following the awarding of a second penalty in second-half stoppage time that Kessie slotted home to spark jubilation in the Milan camp.
Milan spent much of the first half successfully absorbing Atalanta pressure but they were awarded a chance to go ahead when Joakim Maehle felled Theo Hernandez in the box.
Former Atalanta midfielder Kessie confident stepped up and drilled the resulting penalty into the bottom-left corner in a massive moment for Milan.
Gian Piero Gasperini sent on Luis Muriel for the second half but the hosts struggled to test Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It nearly fell two behind in the 69th minute when Kessie surged forward and fed Rafael Leao, who saw his dink over Pierluigi Gollini hit the upright.
Milan continued to defend well as Atalanta looked for an equaliser that would have secured an unprecedented second-place finish for the club.
However, referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot when Hakan Calhanoglu's mishit deflected off Jose Luis Palomino and struck Robin Gosens on the arm.
De Roon was dismissed for violent conduct in an ensuing melee and he responded by pushing the referee.
Kessie was eventually able to take his penalty and he converted again to ensure it was Napoli who missed out on Champions League qualification.
