AC Milan missed out on Champions League qualification on the final matchday of the Serie A season following a 2-1 defeat at home to Cagliari. 

Massimiliano Allegri's team went into Sunday's game in third place but in the knowledge that Roma, Como and Juventus could all overtake them if they slipped up, which they 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 – who had little to play for with their safety secured long ago – grew into the contest, and after Gianluca Gaetano fired over, Gennaro Borrelli scored their 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. 

But 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 were indebted to Maignan when their captain blocked efforts from Borrelli and Gabriele Zappa to keep them in the contest, and the hosts 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 2025-26.

Data Debrief: Big points haul not enough for Rossoneri

Milan finished outside of Serie A's Champions League spots despite amassing 70 points this season.

If applying three points for a win all-time, that is the largest tally the Rossoneri have ever accrued while failing to finish in the top four. 

Allegri will be left to rue a dismal end to their home campaign, as Milan only picked up one point from their final four games at San Siro in 2025-26 (D1 L3) – it is their longest winless run on home soil in the competition since another four-match streak from February to April 2021 (D2 L2 on that occasion).

But the Milan boss could have few complaints about this result, as Cagliari attempted 25 shots and amassed 2.78 expected goals, compared to the hosts' 1.74 xG from 16 shots, only three of which hit the target. 

Maignan made an incredible nine saves to keep Milan in it, but they were unable to take advantage as their campaign ended in disappointment.