Despite a complicated end to the season with 6 defeats over the last 12 days, AC Milan, 3rd, still had to secure its place in the Top 4 this Sunday evening against Cagliari. Ahead of Como and Juventus, back at only 2 points, the Rossoneri were aiming for success to ensure their qualification in C1. On the other side, Cagliari, 16th, had validated its maintenance and fortunately the task was accomplished since Alexis Saelemaekers did not wait to open the scoring with a flat foot (2nd). However, Gennaro Borrelli equalized ten minutes later and the match seemed increasingly delicate for Massimiliano Allegri’s men.
After the break, the visitors accelerated. Juan Rodriguez placed his head in the penalty area and deceived Mike Maignan just before the hour mark (57th). The Habs were furious and protested to the referee. It was enough for him to warn the goalkeeper of a yellow card, without having thought about the consequences. Quite choppy in the final minutes, the match remained undecided, even if the visitors were close to validating this last success of the season. In the end, the Milanese lost big against a more feverish opponent on paper, and it is the Europa League that Adrien Rabiot’s teammates will play for.
AS Roma and Como slip into C1, Lecce saves itself thanks to the defeat of Cremonese
In the three other matches of this multiplex, AS Roma challenged Hellas Verona, the 19th in the championship, and we cannot say that the first period was enticing, as the opportunities did not lead to anything concrete. The Romans had no trouble controlling the ball, but their shots (8) were not on target and did not allow them to dream. Reduced to ten, little Rome was sinking and Malen scored the first goal of the match against the locals… twice from the penalty spot. Calmer then, the capital club showed control during the end of the second act and was able to score its second goal, sealing a 2-0 victory and qualification in C1.
Finally, Lecce (17th) and Cremonese (18th) competed for survival, separated by a single point. The two teams, who were playing at home, therefore had to win before completing this exercise. Respectively against Genoa and Como, the two teams did not start their meeting in the same way. The Florence of the South reassured itself from the start, while the 18th was carried away, conceding the 1-0 before the break and the 2-0 after returning from the locker room. Meanwhile, Lecce controlled their match and won by the smallest of scores. Cremonese, reduced to ten men, still reacted from the penalty spot before conceding a third and a fourth goal. Lecce therefore ensures its maintenance, unlike Cremonese, which will see the second division. Juventus, whose match against Torino started late, is assured of finishing fifth or sixth and will compete in the Europa League next season.
The results of the 8:45 p.m. multiplex:
AC Milan 1-2 Cagliari : Saelemaekers (2nd) / Borrelli (20th), Rodriguez (57th)
Hellas Verona 0-2 AS Roma : Malen (56th), El Shaarawy (90+3)
Lecce 1-0 Genoa: Banda (7th)
Cremonese 1-4 Como : Bonazzoli (55th) / Rodriguez (36th), Douvikas (51st), Da Cunha (74th, 81st)
