Cup finalists Juve, Milan set for Pope audience

AC Milan and Juventus will have an audience with Pope Francis prior to contending the Italian Cup final on May 21, it was announced Thursday.

Teams vying for the Cup usually meet the leader of the Catholic Church prior to the event in Rome and players from both teams will get the chance to do so on Friday May 20.

The Cup final takes place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 21.

"On Friday May 20th, on the eve of the Cup final, Juventus and Milan will be received by Pope Francis," said a statement on acmilan.com.

"The players and the managerial staff of both teams, along with a delegation of the Lega Serie A led by president Maurizio Beretta, will pay a visit to the Pontifex."

A Juventus victory would see the Turin giants secure a league and Cup double for the second successive season, having clinched their fifth consecutive league title last weekend.

Victory would see underdogs Milan, the seven-time European champions, claim their first piece of silverware since the Italian Super Cup in 2011.

It would also allow Cristian Brocchi's men to qualify for the Europa League, although if they lose the struggling Serie A giants have another opportunity.

A Juventus victory would see the Europa League place handed to Serie A's sixth place finisher.

With three games remaining, Milan sit in sixth place at six points behind Fiorentina, in fifth, but only one point ahead of Sassuolo.