Milan's Shock Loss Denies Them Champions League Berth; Modrić Subbed On
Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- AC Milan surprisingly lost their final Serie A match against Cagliari, failing to secure a Champions League spot.
- Roma and Como secured the remaining Champions League berths, while Juventus and Milan will play in the Europa League.
- Despite an early lead, Milan conceded two goals to Cagliari, and a late substitution of Luka Modrić could not prevent the defeat.
The biggest shock of the final Serie A matchday occurred at the San Siro, where AC Milan unexpectedly lost to Cagliari, consequently missing out on a Champions League qualification. The dramatic conclusion to the season saw Roma and Como secure the final two Champions League spots, pushing Juventus and Milan into the Europa League.
Milan started brightly, taking an early lead in the second minute through Alexis Saelemaekers. However, Cagliari equalized in the 20th minute with a goal from Gennaro Borrelli. The home crowd was stunned in the 57th minute when Juan Rodriguez scored to give Cagliari a 2-1 lead, a result that ultimately sealed Milan's fate.
AC Milan players were met with boos from the home supporters as they left the field. Coach Massimiliano Allegri attempted to change the game's momentum by bringing on Luka Modrić in the 61st minute. However, the Croatian captain, entering from the bench, could not inspire his team to avoid the crucial defeat, thus missing out on a place in Europe's elite club competition.
In contrast, AS Roma confirmed their return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence with a victory over Verona. Como achieved a historic success by securing their first-ever Champions League qualification with a convincing away win. Juventus, despite a positive result in their Turin derby, finished fourth, securing their Europa League spot.
Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.