Serie A | Milan 1-2 Cagliari: Rossoneri crisis to throw Champions League away | OneFootball

Milan collapsed after taking the early lead, losing to a Cagliari side that had nothing to play for, and throwing away a Champions League ticket.

The Rossoneri had stuttered badly in recent weeks, but the win away to Genoa and a Juventus slip-up meant that a victory here would guarantee a top four finish. Tension remained sky high off the field, with reports of power struggles behind the scenes. Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan all returned from suspension, but only the Belgian was chosen to start, with Leao and Christian Pulisic benched. The Sardinians secured safety last week, leaving behind Semih Kilicsoy, Michael Folorunsho, Leonardo Pavoletti and Riyad Idrissi.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It took under two minutes to break the deadlock, as Santiago Gimenez knocked down a long Fikayo Tomori ball and Alexis Saelemaekers let it bounce before sweeping in from close range.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, Cagliari fought back, first with Mike Maignan’s acrobatic save to push the Gianluca Gaetano curler out of the far top corner. On the resulting corner kick, Yerry Mina nodded it down and Gennaro Borrelli was quickest to react on the rebound from six yards.

Nkunku should’ve done better with a weak finish on the Saelemaekers lay-off, prodding it straight at Elia Caprile, with the same end result for Gimenez and a Youssouf Fofana header.

Maignan risked fumbling a cross, rescued by Tomori, while Gimenez couldn’t finish off the Adrien Rabiot roll across.

Gaetano almost scored a remarkable goal on the stroke of half-time, flicking the ball over Fofana only to then fire over the bar.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Gennaro Borrelli of Cagliari celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Incredibly, Cagliari took the lead at San Siro from a set play. The free kick was knocked down for Borrelli, forcing a tricky Maignan save at the near post, then Juan Rodriguez nodded in the loose ball from six yards.

Milan were out of the Champions League with this result and Como winning away to Cremonese, so threw on Luka Modric and Niclas Fullkrug.

Christian Pulisic came close with a diving header that bounced wide, and Rafael Leao was finally introduced with 22 minutes left to play.

It was Cagliari who came closest to adding another goal, as Maignan had to make a double save on Borrelli first, then the Gabriele Zappa follow-up at the near post.

Matteo Gabbia made a decisive block on Michel Adopo’s finish, then on the corner Gianluca Gaetano stung Maignan’s gloves with a thunderbolt.

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

The final whistle blew and Milan had blown their chance at Champions League football to deafening jeers from the fans. They lost three of the last four games.

Milan 1-2 Cagliari

Saelemaekers 2 (M), Borrelli 20 (C), Rodriguez 57 (C)