AC Milan suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari at San Siro, ending their Champions League hopes and confirming Europa League qualification for next season.
AC Milan’s hopes of securing UEFA Champions League football were shattered after a shock 2-1 defeat to Cagliari at San Siro on the final day of the Serie A season.
The result means that AC Milan will drop into the UEFA Europa League next season, failing to finish in the top four after a disappointing end to their campaign.
No excuses. pic.twitter.com/FxS1P0Fe7s
— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 24, 2026
AC Milan actually started well, taking an early lead when Alexis Saelemaekers finished calmly after being set up by Santiago Giménez inside the penalty area.
However, Cagliari responded strongly and soon found their way back into the match, with Mike Maignan forced into a superb save before Gennaro Borrelli equalised from close range after a corner.
The visitors then stunned the San Siro early in the second half when Juan Rodríguez rose highest to head home from a set piece and complete a dramatic turnaround.
Despite dominating possession for large spells, Milan struggled to convert chances, with Christopher Nkunku and Youssouf Fofana both unable to find a way past Elia Caprile.
Max Allegri attempted to change the game with a triple substitution, introducing Luka Modrić, Niklas Füllkrug and Zachary Athekame, but the changes failed to inspire a comeback.
Cagliari continued to threaten on the break, with Maignan producing several key saves to prevent the scoreline from becoming even more damaging for the hosts.
The defeat confirms a bitter end to Milan’s season, as they miss out on Champions League qualification, while Cagliari celebrate a rare but memorable victory at San Siro.
