Rome: AC Milan's chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League have taken another hit with a 2-1 loss to visiting Atalanta.

The loss dropped Milan into a tie for sixth place with Sampdoria. Only the top four finishers in Serie A qualify for the Champions League. Milan won the Champions League last season. Meanwhile, Udinese beat fourth-place Fiorentina 3-1 and jumped ahead of Milan into fifth.

"We can't go on like this. We're not defending well and we're not attacking well," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday. "We still have a chance but we don't have anymore room to lose."

The fans at the San Siro were whistling after Sergio Floccari and Antonio Langella scored first-half goals for Atalanta. Milan only began to claw back late in the second half.

Massimo Ambrosini had a goal annulled for a foul in the 77th and Milan captain Paolo Maldini scored his first goal of the season in the 85th, heading in off a corner.

Ambrosini drew a penalty in the 88th but Andrea Pirlo's spot kick was blocked by Atalanta goalkeeper Ferdinando Coppola.

In an other game, Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler put Udinese in front in the 13th and Christian Vieri equalized for Fiorentina before Italy forwards Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella put Udinese ahead two goals.

First-place Inter Milan and second-place AS Roma each played to draws on Saturday to maintain Inter's four-point lead. Inter drew 1-1 with Lazio and Roma drew 1-1 with Cagliari.

Sampdoria beat Empoli 2-0 with a score from Paolo Sammarco and own-goal by Lino Marzorati.

Inter leads with 69 points, followed by Roma with 65, Juventus with 58, Fiorentina with 53,Udinese with 50 and Milan and Sampdoria with 49 each.

Source : PTI