He succeeded Marco Giampaolo, who replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic in May 2010, but parted company with the club after just over seven months at the helm.

Formerly coach of Racing Club, Estudiantes, River Plate and San Lorenzo in Argentina, Simeone guided Catania to 13th in Serie A, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

He was reportedly not expected to continue in the role next season and his departure was confirmed following a meeting with Catania chief executive Pietro Lo Monaco on Tuesday.

Simeone has been tipped to re-join Estudiantes and also linked with the vacant coaching role at former club Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, Lecce coach Gigi De Canio is rumoured to be in the running for the Catania job.

And to the joy of the Stadio Communale Friuli crowd, Udinese managed a draw that will see them in the group stages of European football’s most prestigious club competition if they can negotiate their way through a playoff next season.

They could have ended the season on a high when Antonio Di Natale was presented with a chance to score his 29th league goal of the campaign for Udinese.

But he missed his spot-kick with 16 minutes remaining, leaving the door slightly ajar for Milan, but in the end both sides were happy to share the spoils, giving Udinese fourth spot and ensuring Lazio missed a Champions League spot for next term.

Both Udinese and Lazio finished level on points and on head-to-head, meaning goal difference gave the former fourth place.

Lazio could feel aggrieved though, after they won 4-2 away at Lecce in an exciting encounter at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare, thanks to a Mauro Zarate double.

Tommaso Rocchi scored the opener after seven minutes for Lazio, and although Manuel Coppola replied 26 minutes later, Zarate was on hand to make the most of Rocchi’s assist shortly after.

Ignacio Platti responded for Lecce who were having a real go at their opponents and levelled proceedings at half-time, but when they lost goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi to a straight red card seven minutes into the second half, their hopes of gaining an unlikely result faded.

Zarate tucked away the resultant penalty and an own goal from Lecce striker Giuseppe Vives sealed the result with just under half an hour to play.

In other matches, a Giampaolo Pazzini double helped Inter Milan end their season on a high with a 3-1 home win over Catania while Napoli, who finished third, claimed a 2-2 draw at Juventus, with Alessandro Matri netting a late equaliser for the hosts.

Roma came from a goal down to defeat relegated Sampdoria 3-1 thanks to strikes from Francesco Totti, Mirko Vucinic and Marco Borriello and Chievo won by the same scoreline as they beat Palermo away from home.

Brescia avoided a final-day defeat but will be in Serie B next season after a 2-2 draw with Fiorentina at home and the spoils also had to be shared between Cagliari and Parma, who drew 1-1.

A first-half double to Antonio Floro Flores saw Genoa topple a fast-finishing Cesena 3-2 and a Francesco Grandolfo hat-trick gave Bari, who will finish bottom, just their fifth win of the season as they trounced Bologna 4-0.

While they have nothing to play for in the league, Inter can retain the Coppa Italia trophy if they beat Palermo on May 29.

And Leonardo wants his players to go into the final at the Stadio Olimpico on the back of a last-day home victory over visitors Catania.

“Tomorrow’s game must be faced with the right concentration, as we want to keep improving ahead of the Coppa Italia Final against Palermo,” Leonardo said ahead of Sunday’s match.

“Good performances lead to others, so we want to win.”

Inter will be without Esteban Cambiasso after the defensive midfielder suffered a thigh injury on Saturday.

Depending on the severity of the problem, he could be in doubt for Argentina‘s Copa America campaign starting in July.

“Cambiasso had a problem in training today and we need to evaluate how serious it is,” Leonardo said.

“Julio Cesar has a back injury and cannot play.”

“(Wesley) Sneijder hasn’t recovered totally yet, while Maicon is suspended for the Coppa Italia and so we need to see players who can take part next week.”

Leonardo’s future at Inter remains uncertain after they failed to win the Scudetto for the first time since 2006.

The team also suffered an embarrassing 7-3 aggregate defeat at the hands of Schalke that ended their defence of the Champions League.

“I am just a coach,” Leonardo said.

“I feel in sync with the club, but President Massimo Moratti and his directors make the decisions. If I can contribute, then I am here.”

Leonardo also hailed the influence of his Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o who has scored 21 goals this season.

“Well, Eto’o has been extraordinary if we consider what he’s done over the recent years and not only the league wins, the Champions League wins and the goal he scored in the final, but also considering what he’s done this season,” he said.

“The numbers are clear – they confirm him as undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.”

“At the moment he is in better shape and he has been greatly rewarded this season.”

“Consider the number of goals he scored, but also the different ways he played, because that’s another important quality he has: he plays in any role and works hard and sometimes that isn’t so easy.”

Udinese would book their spot in the Champions League for the first time since 2005/06 if they can achieve the result and Guidolin said they would need to be clinical in the attacking third.

“AC Milan are not just any team but the Serie A champion,” Guidolin said.

“We need one more point but it will be very difficult. We need to be focused and ready for the task that awaits us.”

“We have to make the most of our chances in order to obtain the result that would take us to paradise.”

Lazio, who are two points adrift in fifth, will need to collect three points at Lecce if they are to have any chance of stealing Udinese’s spot.

Juventus are also relying on other results if they are to sneak a European spot for next season.

They host third-placed Napoli and need to win, as well as hoping Roma lose at home to the relegated Sampdoria, to clinch sixth spot.

Second-placed Inter Milan head into their meeting with Catania with the runners-up position already confirmed.

Coach Leonardo will want to go into the Coppa Italia final against Palermo on May 29 with a full strength squad, meaning he will not be taking any risks, while Catania can finish no higher than 10th.

Palermo manager Delio Rossi may do likewise when his team welcomes Chievo with a European spot out of their grasp.

Struggling Bologna, who have survived the drop, will be looking for their first win since March 13 when the relegated Bari visit.

Cagliari will be out to break a four-game losing run when they host Parma, who are unbeaten in their last five outings.

Elsewhere, Genoa and Cesena will do battle and the relegated Brescia will host Fiorentina.

And the rookie coach believes he knows why his side fell short in their attempt to secure a top-four finish and a spot in Europe’s top competition.

“We need to have a clear head in analysing this season,” he said.

“We were unlucky with so many injuries and gave it our all to reach the Champions League, but we had to give in a week early.”

Montella was disappointed to concede such a late goal against Catania and was frustrated he could not influence the game late in proceedings, given he had already used his three substitutions.

“Today we came to Catania amid a thousand difficulties, between injuries and suspensions,” he said.

“I was forced into three substitutions during the game. Aleandro Rosi and Marco Cassetti were limping at the end because we had no more options. Fabio Simplicio was also staggering around.”

Montella’s future at Roma is now up in the air, with rumours already circulating that the 36-year-old might return to former club Sampdoria.

But Montella denies any contact with the recently relegated club.

“I have never been contacted by Samp, so for now it’s all rumour, but I do have great affection for that club,” Montella said.

“On a personal level it was a big step forward for me, however this experience ends. I gave everything I could for Roma and didn’t think about what it means for my own future.”

Catania have won 10 of their 18 home games this season and Montella knows his team will need to be at their best.

“I expect Catania to be fired up and eager to celebrate in a packed stadium,” he said.

“They want to end the season on a high and I, as coach and a former player, can tell you a full stadium makes a big difference.”

Roma currently sit in sixth place on the Serie A table, but are just three points behind fierce rival Lazio who currently hold fourth position and the final Champions League qualification place.

Sandwiched in between the two Rome sides is fifth-placed Udinese, who also face a tricky away trip to Chievo Verona on Sunday.

While Montella will be hoping Chievo Verona can cause an upset against Udinese, he is concentrating on getting three points at Catania.

“We are gambling with a great deal tomorrow. Udinese are in a similar situation. We must be motivated and have self-confidence to face Catania in the best possible way, talking about the present rather than the future,” Montella said.

Key duo Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta are suspended and will miss Roma’s match against Catania.

But the day’s most important game will see sixth-placed Lazio welcome Genoa to Rome’s Olympic Stadium, keen to keep the pressure on fourth-placed Udinese in the race for a spot in the Champions League qualifiers.

On Sunday, the match of the round sees Inter Milan with a chance to wrap up second place with a win over third-placed Napoli.

Udinese are away to Chievo Verona while Roma – who are in fifth place, level on points with Lazio and just two behind Udinese – travel to Catania.

Juventus, three points behind Lazio in seventh in the quest for a Europa League place, face a tricky trip to Parma and Fiorentina play host to Bologna.

Sampdoria face a crunch fixture against Palermo, who will be riding high after securing a berth in the Coppa Italia final with a 2-1 win over Milan on Tuesday, as they run out of opportunities to escape the bottom three.

With Brescia and Bari already resigned to life in Serie B next season, Sampdoria are the only team in the drop zone who can escape – with Lecce, who they trail by two points, the team they are most likely to overhaul.

Lecce are away to Bari, while Cesena, who are just four points ahead of Sampdoria, play host to Brescia.

Lazio were handed a golden opportunity to get back in the contest when Gabriele Angella brought down Tommaso Rocchi inside the area on 67 minutes.

Defender Angella received his marching orders for the foul, but the visitors were unable to take advantage, with Mauro Zarate’s tame effort saved by Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

Lazio did pull a goal back 10 minutes later though, with Czech forward Libor Kozak slotting home from close range.

But Edy Reja’s side were unable to force an equaliser and slip to fifth place as a consequence of their defeat.

Udinese replace them in fourth, two points ahead and in possession of the final Champions League qualification berth with two matches left to play.

Inter Milan regained second place with a 3-1 win at home to Fiorentina.

Striker Giampaolo Pazzini and Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso were on target in the first half for Inter at the San Siro.

Alberto Gilardino pulled a goal back for Fiorentina on 73 minutes, before Coutinho completed the scoring for the hosts with 13 minutes remaining.

Inter are now one point ahead of Napoli, who slipped to third after going down 2-1 away to Lecce.

Javier Chevanton struck the winner for struggling Lecce two minutes from time at the Stadio Via del Mare.

Brescia are now just one match away from relegation after they lost 2-1 at home to Catania.

Goals from Luis Jimenez and Dominique Malonga helped Cesena edge closer to safety with a 2-0 win away to Cagliari.

And Parma guaranteed their survival after drawing 0-0 away to Bologna.

The win sees Massimiliano Allegri’s side restore an eight-point lead over defending champions Inter Milan with three matches of the season remaining.

At the other end of the table, Sampdoria came from behind three times to draw 3-3 at home to Brescia.

Visitors Brescia led first through Citadin Eder’s goal five minutes into the second half, with Nicola Pozzi equalising for the hosts on 55 minutes at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Former Sampdoria man Andrea Caracciolo restored Brescia’s lead three minutes later, before Fernando Tissone levelled for the home side just after the hour mark.

Brescia must have thought they had done enough to win when striker Caracciolo netted his second to make it 3-2 with six minutes remaining.

But midfielder Daniele Mannini struck a minute into injury time to rescue a point for Alberto Cavasin’s team.

The draw keeps Sampdoria one point clear of the relegation zone, while Brescia remain second last, five points from safety.

Lecce stay third bottom, one point behind Sampdoria after going down 1-0 away to Chievo.

Udinese suffered a blow in their bid to secure a Champions League qualification berth, when they lost 5-2 away to Fiorentina.

Gaetano D’Agostino and Alessio Cerci both struck braces for the home side at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The defeat leaves Udinese fifth, one point behind fourth-placed Lazio, who host Juventus on Monday.

In other matches, Parma defeated Palermo 3-1, while Catania defeated Cagliari 2-0.

Their closest challengers are bitter rivals Inter Milan, in second, and Napoli, a further point behind in third and tussling with Inter for the top two.

Inter and Napoli both play on Saturday, the former at Cesena and the latter at home to Genoa, and should both fail to register a win Milan can wrap up the title against struggling Bologna with three games left in the season.

Although unlikely, current form suggests this scenario is not altogether unforeseeable for Massimiliano Allegri and the Milan squad.

Inter’s form has been questionable lately, especially away from home, where Leonardo’s men have not managed a win in the league since a trip to Sampdoria in late February.

Cesena, meanwhile, have climbed out of the relegation places with an improved run of form through the last two months, losing just one of their past nine games and none at home.

Napoli’s form has also taken an ill-timed dip, conceding second place to Inter with back-to-back losses to Udinese and Palermo.

Mid-table Genoa have reason to feel confident ahead of their trip to the Stadio San Paolo following consecutive wins over Brescia and Lecce, and seem to have picked up a gem in on-loan Udinese striker Antonio Floro Flores.

Assuming Inter and Napoli manage a point or less from their encounters, Milan will have the simple enough task of defeating Bologna – on a four-game losing streak – to wrap up their title.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Udinese can move provisionally into the fourth and final Champions League place on the table – occupied by Lazio – if they find a way past visiting Fiorentina.

Roma will surely maintain their grip on a Europa League spot with a visit to Serie B-bound Bari, while Sampdoria and Brescia fight it out at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in a relegation dogfight.

Lecce take their relegation-threatened campaign into a crucial encounter at Chievo, Catania do the same at Cagliari, while Parma and Palermo will both aim for a third straight win at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Finally, Juventus’ slim hopes of stealing a Europa League berth could be dealt a death blow with a visit to Champions League hopefuls Lazio on Monday.