Massimiliano Allegri says AC Milan must "knuckle down" in their quest to secure Champions League qualification, after boosting their hopes with a 1-0 win over Serie A's bottom side Hellas Verona.

Adrien Rabiot scored the only goal as Milan leapfrogged Napoli to second place, while moving eight points clear of fifth-place Como with five games remaining.

Considering the five major European leagues, only Napoli (14) have won more games by a single goal this season than Milan (13), with this perhaps their most important. 

The Rossoneri's Scudetto ambitions are all but over, with rivals Inter 12 points clear at the summit and on the brink of reclaiming the domestic crown.

Nevertheless, ensuring a return to continental football is now Milan's top priority, after an eighth-place finish last season saw them miss out.

"Today's game was complicated because we were coming off two defeats, and when you are six rounds from the end, the fear and pressure sets in that you might not reach your target," Allegri told DAZN Italia.

"Trips to Verona are always complicated, regardless of the fact this team only picked up 18 points this season, as they have these rapid counter-attacks that threaten goals.

"We should’ve done better, but at this moment, you have to knuckle down and get the points for our Champions League objective.

"We could've attacked the space better with our strikers, as Verona had been stretched out a bit. The best thing is that everyone participated when off the ball, everyone realised the importance of this victory.

"At this stage, the result goes beyond the consideration for quality football. That's natural. We haven't locked down a Champions League spot yet, but we're close."

Milan are now handed a 97.6% chance of finishing in the top four by the Opta supercomputer, with their next match coming on April 25 against fellow European hopefuls Juventus.