AC Milan’s 2025-26 Serie A campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat at home to Cagliari, a result that confirms fifth place and Europa League qualification while drawing a line under any hope of Champions League football. Sandro Saelemaekers gave Milan the lead inside two minutes, but goals from Giovanni Borrelli and Javier Rodriguez turned the match on its head. With Como finishing fourth on 71 points, one ahead of Milan’s 70, Massimiliano Allegri’s side will be in the UEFA Europa League next season rather than among Europe’s elite.
Key Moments
- 2′, Saelemaekers put AC Milan ahead almost from kick-off, converting early to give the hosts a dream start at San Siro.
- 20′, Cagliari leveled through Borrelli, who finished to make it 1-1 before the half-hour mark and shift the momentum toward the visitors.
- 57′, Rodriguez turned the game on its head with a second-half strike just before the hour, putting Cagliari 2-1 up. He was substituted off moments later.
- 61′, Allegri responded with a triple change, bringing on Tomori, Nkunku, and Jashari in an attempt to find an equalizer, but Milan could not convert their volume of attempts.
Tactical Breakdown
Cagliari were the better side by most measures despite losing ground throughout the first half. They finished with 25 shots to Milan’s 16 and an xG of 2.78 against Milan’s 1.74, holding 52% possession in a mirror 3-5-2 matchup. Their goalkeeper, Caprile, was rarely tested, making only two saves, while Maignan was worked hard at the other end with nine stops.
Milan’s afternoon unraveled quickly after the break. Pavlovic picked up a yellow card in the 56th minute, Rodriguez scored Cagliari’s winner a minute later, and Maignan was booked for dissent at the restart. Allegri threw on four substitutes between the 61st and 68th minutes but the changes could not shift the scoreline, with Milan managing just three shots on target across 90 minutes despite 13 attempts from inside the box.
Cagliari’s discipline off the ball and directness in transition exposed Milan’s defensive structure repeatedly. The visitors conceded an early goal and still controlled large stretches of the game, a showing that reflects a side which went unbeaten in its last three matches heading into the final day.
Player Ratings
Verdict
AC Milan end the Serie A season on 70 points in fifth place, one behind Como in fourth. That single-point gap is the difference between the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League next season. Allegri’s side had enough volume in attack across the 38 games but lacked the consistency to crack the top four, a gap that will define how the club approaches the summer transfer window.