AC Milan top-four hopes hit after Atalanta loss

AC Milan’s hopes of returning to the Champions League were dented by a 3-2 home defeat to Atalanta, while Como secured European qualification for the first time. Roma also stayed in the hunt with a dramatic late win at Parma.

ROME: AC Milan’s bid to return to the Champions League suffered a major setback on Sunday after a 3-2 defeat at home to Atalanta deepened the club’s troubles, while Como secured European qualification for the first time.

The final whistle at San Siro was met by boos and whistles after a match in which the scoreline did not fully reflect the flow of play. A significant number of the more than 70,000 spectators had already left before the end, and before departing, sections of hardcore supporters directed chants at the club’s owners, American investment fund RedBird.

Those protests intensified after Atalanta moved three goals clear by the 51st minute through Ederson, Davide Zappacosta and Giacomo Raspadori. Milan responded late, with Strahinja Pavlovic heading in during the 88th minute and Christoper Nkunku converting a stoppage-time penalty, but the late goals did little to disguise what was a poor display.

The responsibility is mine, I'm the one leading the players. We've got a difficult match at Genoa next week and we have to do what we can to win, said coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Milan remain inside Serie A’s top four, but only just. They are level on 67 points with fifth-placed Roma and have struggled badly since beating local rivals Inter Milan two months ago. Since then, they have collected only seven points and scored six goals, with half of those coming in a single match. Frustration among supporters also rose sharply when winger Rafael Leao, previously a favourite with fans, was taken off shortly before the hour mark.

The defeat completed a difficult day for Milan because both of their main rivals in the race for a Champions League place won their matches.

Como reach Europe for the first time

Como sealed at least a place in the Conference League with a 1-0 win at relegated Verona. Tasos Douvikas scored the only goal in the 71st minute as the lakeside club, promoted to Serie A only in 2024, guaranteed European football for the first time.

Como could still finish in the top four. They are sixth, two points behind Milan.

Two years ago today we were promoted to Serie A and today we’re qualifying for Europe, said coach Cesc Fabregas.
The team, the club, the fans have all grown. It's incredible. We will remember this day 20 years from now.

Roma leave it late to stay in contention

Roma also kept up the pressure with a dramatic 3-2 win at Parma in a match decided by late penalty drama. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team struck twice in stoppage time to increase the pressure on Milan and Juventus, who are one point further ahead in third.

Roma appeared to have damaged their top-four hopes when Mandela Keita put Parma ahead with three minutes left. But Devyne Rensch equalised in the third minute of stoppage time and was then brought down by Sascha Britschgi moments later.

Referee Daniele Chiffi initially believed Rensch had committed the foul during the penalty-area challenge, but after being sent to the pitch-side monitor by VAR, he awarded a penalty. Donyell Malen, who had given Roma the lead in the 22nd minute, converted the spot-kick for his 13th Serie A goal, sparking celebrations among the away supporters.

Roma have not featured in Europe’s premier club competition since Porto knocked them out in the last 16 seven years ago. They now face the Rome derby next weekend.

Paulo Dybala, who created Malen’s opening goal, later said the derby would be his final match in front of Roma’s home fans because his contract expires at the end of June.

Cremonese boost survival hopes

Earlier, Jamie Vardy scored for the first time since January as Cremonese beat bottom club Pisa 3-0 to improve their chances of staying up.

Vardy struck shortly after the half-hour mark to put Cremonese ahead against a Pisa side that had already been reduced to 10 men after Rosen Bozhinov was shown two yellow cards within seven minutes. Pisa ended the match with nine players.

Second-half goals from Federico Bonazzoli and David Okereke lifted Cremonese to within one point of Lecce, who are just above the relegation zone.