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AC Milan suffered a shocking setback after taking an early lead, falling 1-2 at home to a Cagliari side with little left to play for, effectively throwing away their chance at Champions League qualification.

The Rossoneri had struggled for consistency in recent weeks, but an away win over Genoa combined with Juventus’ slip-up meant that victory at San Siro would secure a top-four finish. Off the pitch, tensions were high amid reports of internal power struggles. Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Pervis Estupinan returned from suspension, though only Saelemaekers started, with Leao and Christian Pulisic on the bench. Cagliari had already ensured survival the previous week, leaving out Semih Kilicsoy, Michael Folorunsho, Leonardo Pavoletti, and Riyad Idrissi.

It took less than two minutes for the hosts to open the scoring. Santiago Gimenez cushioned a long pass from Fikayo Tomori into the path of Alexis Saelemaekers, who allowed the ball to bounce once before finishing smartly from close range.

Cagliari responded quickly. Mike Maignan had to produce an acrobatic save to deny Gianluca Gaetano’s curling effort from finding the top corner. From the ensuing corner, Yerry Mina headed the ball down and Gennaro Borrelli reacted fastest, slotting in the rebound from six yards out.

Milan had opportunities to regain the lead but failed to capitalise. Nkunku’s weak finish from a Saelemaekers assist went straight at Elia Caprile, while Gimenez and Youssouf Fofana also saw their efforts easily saved. Maignan nearly spilled a cross but was bailed out by Tomori, and Gimenez couldn’t convert Adrien Rabiot’s low delivery across the box. Just before half-time, Gaetano almost scored an audacious goal, flicking the ball over Fofana before firing over the bar.

Against the run of play, Cagliari stunned the home crowd by taking the lead midway through the second half from a set piece. A free kick was knocked down for Borrelli, whose close-range shot forced Maignan into a difficult save at the near post. The rebound fell kindly for Juan Rodriguez, who nodded home from six yards.

With this result, Milan found themselves out of the Champions League spots as Como were winning away at Cremonese. In response, Luka Modric and Niclas Fullkrug were brought on to inject creativity and urgency.

Christian Pulisic went close with a diving header that drifted just wide, while Rafael Leao entered the fray with 22 minutes remaining. Yet it was Cagliari who looked more likely to score again, forcing Maignan into a double save to stop Borrelli’s attempt and then Gabriele Zappa’s follow-up at the near post.

Matteo Gabbia made a crucial block on Michel Adopo’s shot, and from the resulting corner, Maignan had to parry a fierce drive from Gaetano. Modric flicked an effort just wide, and Fullkrug failed to direct his headers on target. In the dying stages, Maignan denied Mendy in a one-on-one situation following a quick counterattack.

When the final whistle blew, Milan’s fans voiced their frustration loudly as their team squandered a golden opportunity to secure Champions League football. The Rossoneri have now lost three of their last four league fixtures.

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