Como and Roma qualify for the Champions League; Milan and Juventus miss out

Como secured a place in the Champions League for the first time in club history on Sunday, joining Roma in the top four of Serie A. AC Milan and Juventus missed out after a chaotic final day that saw fan violence.

Como’s 4‑1 victory over Cremonese, who will drop to Serie B, combined with AC Milan’s 2‑1 home defeat to Cagliari, was enough for Cesc Fàbregas’s side to finish fourth. They finished two points behind Roma, who earned third place with a 2‑0 win over already‑relegated Verona.

Roma have not appeared in Europe’s elite club competition since being eliminated by Porto in the last 16 in 2019. The top‑four finish is a significant achievement for coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the American Friedkin family that owns the club.

For Como, the accomplishment is even more remarkable. The club has never played in European competition and was in the third tier of Italian football when it was purchased by tobacco giant Djarum in 2019.

Juventus will play in the Europa League next season regardless of the outcome of their delayed derby at Torino. The match was delayed over an hour for “public safety” after a Juventus fan was hospitalized following pre‑match clashes with rival supporters.

Dusan Vlahovic gave Juventus the lead in the 24th minute. A win would have secured a fifth‑place finish, while Milan, whose angry fans protested against owners RedBird before, during, and after a humiliating defeat, dropped to sixth.

Milan began the day in third place and looked poised to reach the Champions League when Alexis Saelemaekers scored in the second minute. However, tap‑ins from Gennaro Borrelli and Juan Rodríguez in each half left Milan outside the top four and back in a series of crises.

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