Both AC Milan and Juventus failed to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League on the final day of the Serie A season, in what CBS Sports described as one of the most surprising last matchdays in recent history. AS Roma and Como took the final two qualification spots alongside Inter and Napoli.
AC Milan lost 2-1 to Cagliari. Juventus drew 2-2 with Torino. Roma beat Hellas Verona 2-0, and Como thrashed Cremonese 4-1 to secure their historic berth.
For AC Milan, it is the second consecutive season they have missed the Champions League. The club brought back Massimiliano Allegri in the summer of 2025 with the specific objective of returning to Europe's top competition. He did not achieve it. Significant discussions are now expected about the futures of Allegri, CEO Giorgio Furlani, and sporting director Igli Tare.
Christian Pulisic had another difficult season. The American star scored his last goal of the campaign on December 28 against Hellas Verona. He did not start Milan's final home match against Cagliari. With the World Cup approaching and Pulisic set to lead Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT at the tournament, questions about his form are growing.
Juventus were also forced to change managers during the 2025-26 season and finished the year without securing a Champions League place.
Como's qualification stands apart from the rest of the day's news. The club, based in northern Italy, secured European competition for the first time in their history. Under Fabregas, they finished in the Champions League places after starting as a newly promoted side just two seasons ago. In his first full season in charge, they finished 10th. This season they went further.
Fabregas played for Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and AS Monaco before joining Como as a player during the 2022-23 season. After retiring, he took charge of the under-23 team, then became caretaker of the first team. In his first season as caretaker, he earned the club promotion to Serie A.
