JuicyTalk
It was a final day to remember across Europe’s top leagues, with Serie A delivering the most dramatic finishes in recent years as AC Milan’s Champions League hopes evaporated, Como completed a fairytale first season back in the top flight with a place in European football, and Villarreal put on a show in La Liga.
Milan stunned as Como and Roma seize Europa spots
AC Milan’s dream of Champions League football came crashing down on the final day as Cagliari, who had nothing but pride to play for, produced a remarkable comeback to win 2-1 at San Siro, handing the Rossoneri one of the most painful results in their recent history.
Alexis Saelemaekers had given Milan the perfect start after just 93 seconds, the fastest goal of their Serie A season, and for a brief period everything seemed to be going to plan.
But Cagliari refused to lie down. Gennaro Borrelli equalised on 20 minutes with a poacher’s finish from a corner, and then Juan Rodriguez – scoring his first Serie A goal of the season – headed in from close range in the 57th minute to complete the turnaround.
Milan’s attempts to salvage the game, even with Rafael Leao introduced from the bench and Luka Modric adding experience, came to nothing. It opened the door for teams below them.
Como, in their first season back in Serie A, walked right through it. Cesc Fabregas’s side hammered Cremonese 4-1 in a second half that descended into chaos at the Zini, with three Cremonese players, Djuric, Grassi, and Okereke, all receiving red cards in the space of a few minutes.
Lucas Da Cunha scored twice, including a converted penalty, as Como finished what has been a genuinely extraordinary campaign. Champions League football in their first season back.
Roma also did what was required, seeing off Verona 2-0 at the Olimpico. It was not always straightforward, the first half finished goalless, and it took a VAR-awarded penalty, initially saved by Montipo before Donyell Malen converted the rebound, to break the deadlock in the 56th minute.
Stephan El Shaarawy wrapped it up late on with a composed finish. Verona’s Nicolas Valentini made life harder for his side by collecting two yellow cards, the second just five minutes into the second half, and the ten men could offer little resistance.
Napoli finished second after a routine 1-0 win over Udinese, Rasmus Hojlund sliding home a vintage Kevin De Bruyne through-ball on 24 minutes, to confirm their runners-up spot in Antonio Conte’s final game in charge.
Inter Milan were already crowned champions. Milan’s collapse means Juventus, whatever their result, can finish no higher than a Europa League spot at best.
Villarreal 5-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid’s season ended with a humbling as Villarreal produced one of the performances of the weekend, running out emphatic 5-1 winners at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
The damage was largely done by half-time. Dani Parejo converted a penalty on 30 minutes after Nicolas Pepe won a foul in the box, before Ayoze Perez, outstanding throughout, added a second with a cool finish from the centre of the box.
Georges Mikautadze then showed exactly why Villarreal invested in him, racing onto a fast break to drill a superb effort into the top corner and make it three. Atletico did pull one back through a Marc Pubill header from a corner, but Pape Gueye restored the three-goal margin with a thunderous drive from outside the box right on half-time.
