Rebić nets swift hat trick as Milan beats Torino 7-0

Ante Rebić netted a 12-minute hat trick in the second half to help AC Milan rout Torino 7-0 in Serie A on Wednesday and strengthen its chances to qualify for the Champions League.

Theo Hernández also scored twice as Milan remained level on points with second-place Atalanta, which beat Benevento 2-0.

The two are a point above Napoli and three above fifth-place Juventus, which won 3-1 at Sassuolo. There are two rounds remaining in Serie A and the top four qualify for next season’s Champions League.

AC Milan's Ante Rebic passes the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and AC Milan at the Olympic stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (SpadaLaPresse via AP)

Milan was without star striker Zlatan Ibrahimović but Hernández gave it the lead in the 19th minute and Samu Castillejo hit the woodwork before Franck Kessié converted a penalty in the 26th.

It took until early in the second half before Milan extended its advantage through Brahim Díaz and the floodgates then opened.

Hernández doubled his tally in the 62nd and Rebić netted his first five minutes later.

AC Milan's Brahim Diaz celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and AC Milan at the Olympic stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (SpadaLaPresse via AP)

BUFFON TO THE RESCUE

World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon announced on Tuesday that he will leave Juventus at the end of the season. Until then, the 43-year-old Buffon is still rescuing his side.

Buffon saved an early penalty from Domenico Berardi before goals from Adrien Rabiot, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala secured the win for Juventus.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scores the third goal of his team during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Roma at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)

Lazio also still has a chance of qualifying for the Champions League after Ciro Immobile scored in stoppage time to help it to a 1-0 win against already-relegated Parma.

Lazio is five points behind fourth-place Napoli but has a match in hand.

RELEGATION BATTLE

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, left, celebrates his goal with his teammate Andrea Pinamonti during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Roma at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)

Spezia and Cagliari boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation by drawing against Sampdoria and Fiorentina, respectively.

Spezia is level on points with Torino, which has played a match less than most of its rivals, and four points above 18th-place Benevento.

Cagliari is five points above the bottom zone.

Juventus goalie Gianluigi Buffon, left, reacts after saving a penalty during the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Juventus at the MApei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (Filippo RubinLaPresse via AP)

Elsewhere, newly-crowned champion Inter Milan beat Roma 3-1 and Genoa won 2-0 at Bologna.

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Juventus goalie Gianluigi Buffon gestures during the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Juventus at the MApei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (Filippo RubinLaPresse via AP)

Federico Bernardeschi scored against his former club as Juventus beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Inter Milan.

After Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski failed to intercept a cross, Bernardeschi controlled the ball with his chest then volleyed in shortly after the half-hour mark.

Danilo sealed it in stoppage time after being set up by Juan Cuadrado.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Aiming to defend its title, Juventus advanced on 3-0 aggregate.

Defending Serie A champion Inter beat city rival AC Milan 3-0 on Tuesday to advance.

Juventus has won the Italian Cup a record 14 times, while Inter has seven trophies in the competition — the last from 2011.

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot, right, and Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The final is scheduled for May 11.

Juventus also had a goal from Adrien Rabiot wiped off for offside following a VAR check.

SALERNITANA SUCCESS

An injury-time winner earned Salernitana a 1-0 win at Udinese in Serie A, keeping the southern club’s hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, left, and Fiorentina's Alfred Duncan battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Having won at Sampdoria on Saturday, it marked the first time this season that Salernitana posted consecutive victories.

Substitute Simone Verdi finished off a counterattack three minutes into stoppage time.

The bottom three clubs — Venezia, Salernitana and Genoa — are now level on points, each six points from safety.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The match was postponed four months ago amid a coronavirus outbreak within Salernitana’s squad.

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