Serie A: Milan’s Champions League Dream Ends With Home Defeat to Cagliari

Cagliari denies Milan Champions League spot

Milan threw away a Champions League spot with a 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari. Maignan’s saves couldn’t prevent a late-season collapse.

Saelemaekers scored early but Cagliari hit back through Borrelli and Rodriguez. Milan lost three of their last four games and finished outside the top four...

AC Milan collapsed after taking an early lead, losing to a Cagliari side with nothing left to play for. The defeat cost them a place in the Champions League.

The Rossoneri had struggled in recent weeks, but a win at Genoa combined with a Juventus slip-up meant victory here would secure a top four finish. Tension off the field was high due to reports of internal power struggles. Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Pervis Estupinan returned from suspension, yet only Saelemaekers started while Leao and Christian Pulisic were on the bench. Cagliari had secured safety the previous week and left out Semih Kilicsoy, Michael Folorunsho, Leonardo Pavoletti, and Riyad Idrissi.

It took less than two minutes to open the scoring. Santiago Gimenez headed down a long Fikayo Tomori pass, and Alexis Saelemaekers let it bounce before sweeping it in from close range.

Cagliari responded quickly. Mike Maignan made an acrobatic save to tip Gianluca Gaetano’s curling shot out of the far top corner. From the resulting corner, Yerry Mina headed it down and Gennaro Borrelli reacted fastest to score from six yards on the rebound.

Nkunku should have done better when he shot weakly at Elia Caprile after a Saelemaekers lay-off. Gimenez and Youssouf Fofana both had similar attempts that failed to trouble the keeper.

Maignan nearly fumbled a cross but was bailed out by Tomori. Gimenez also missed a chance after Adrien Rabiot rolled the ball across the face of goal.

Gaetano almost scored a remarkable goal just before half-time. He flicked the ball over Fofana but then fired over the bar.

Cagliari took the lead at San Siro from a set piece. The free kick was headed down for Borrelli, forcing a difficult save from Maignan at the near post. Juan Rodriguez followed up and headed in the loose ball from six yards.

Milan knew they were out of the Champions League after this result and Como’s win at Cremonese, so they brought on Luka Modric and Niclas Fullkrug.

Christian Pulisic went close with a diving header that bounced wide. Rafael Leao was introduced with 22 minutes remaining.

Si possono avere tante fortune nella vita, a noi è toccata quella più grande di tutte: essere il Cagliari.

Grazie RAGAZZI, che notte ✨❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/igdZc6mTui

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) May 24, 2026

Cagliari came closest to scoring again. Maignan made a double save, first denying Borrelli and then stopping Gabriele Zappa’s follow-up at the near post.

Matteo Gabbia made a decisive block to stop Michel Adopo’s finish. From the resulting corner, Gianluca Gaetano hit a thunderbolt that stung Maignan’s gloves.

Modric flicked his effort wide and Fullkrug couldn’t keep his headers on target. Maignan also had to deny Mendy one-on-one after a Cagliari counter-attack.

No excuses. pic.twitter.com/FxS1P0Fe7s

— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 24, 2026

The final whistle confirmed Milan had missed out on Champions League football, and the team left the pitch to loud jeers from the fans. They lost three of their last four games.