Serie A
AC Milan misses out on Champions League
AC Milan missed out on Champions League qualification on the final matchday of the Serie A season after a 2-1 loss at home to Cagliari. … Show More
AC Milan missed out on Champions League qualification on the final matchday of the Serie A season after a 2-1 loss at home to Cagliari.
Massimiliano Allegri's team went into the game in third place but in the knowledge that Roma, Como and Juventus could all overtake it if it slipped up, which it did despite taking an early lead.
Alexis Saelemaekers took in Santiago Gimenez's deft knockdown and slotted past Elia Caprile to settle the nerves at San Siro in the second minute.
But Cagliari – which had little to play for with its safety secured long ago – grew into the contest, and after Gianluca Gaetano fired over, Gennaro Borrelli scored the equaliser in the 20th minute, pouncing to sweep home after Yerry Mina's downward header from a corner.
Christopher Nkunku and Youssouf Fofana were both thwarted by Caprile as the Rossoneri looked to reestablish their advantage, but their best chance came late in the first half as Gimenez skewed wide from Adrien Rabiot's cutback.
After going close through Ze Pedro at the start of the second period, Cagliari stunned the home fans into silence in the 57th minute, when Juan Rodriguez reacted quickest to Mike Maginan denying Borrelli, heading in on the rebound to put his team ahead.
Milan was indebted to Maignan when its captain blocked efforts from Borrelli and Gabriele Zappa to keep it in the contest, and the host grew desperate after learning rivals Como and Roma were both in front elsewhere.
Rabiot sent an acrobatic bicycle kick over and both Luka Modric and Davide Bartesaghi curled wide in the latter stages, but Milan were unable to turn it around and will be absent from UEFA's premier club competition for a second straight season in 2025-2026.
