The Serie A season concluded with a dramatic finale, as Italian football giants Juventus and AC Milan missed out on qualifying for the Champions League. This comes amidst fan disturbances and unexpected results on the final matchday.
Juventus, the most decorated club in Italian football, will play in the Europa League next season after finishing fifth. Their fate was sealed when direct competitor Como 1907, managed by Cesc Fàbregas, secured a victory against US Cremonese on the 38th matchday.
AC Milan will also compete in the second-tier European club competition. The Rossoneri conceded a lead against Cagliari Calcio, ultimately losing 1-2. Niclas Füllkrug, on loan from West Ham, was a late substitute but couldn’t alter the outcome.
AS Roma secured third place, earning their spot in the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Hellas Verona. They will be joined in Europe’s elite competition by Como, champions Inter Milan, and SSC Napoli.
The disappointing league finish for Juventus was confirmed even before their derby match against Torino concluded, a match that had been delayed due to fan violence. Como fulfilled their end of the bargain by winning 4-1 against Cremonese, who were relegated to Serie B. Fàbregas’s team finished level on points with Juventus but secured the tie-breaker, marking a historic first-ever Champions League appearance for Como in its nearly 120-year history.
Disturbances Mar Torino vs. Juventus Derby
The derby match between Juventus and Torino had been postponed due to ‘public safety’ concerns and kicked off over an hour late. This followed an incident where a Juventus fan was hospitalized after a brawl with rival supporters prior to the game.
AC Milan had their Champions League qualification in their own hands. Alexis Saelemaekers gave them an early lead in the second minute, but Cagliari managed to turn the game around. Füllkrug, introduced in the 61st minute, could not make an impact.
AS Roma benefited from Milan’s slip-up. Former Dortmund player Donyell Malen was once again a hero for the Romans, scoring his 14th goal of the season in his 18th appearance to give them the lead. This goal laid the foundation for Roma’s first Champions League qualification since the 2018/19 season, with Stephan El Shaarawy adding the second goal.