90 minutes to decide everything: AC Milan fights for the Champions League
The moment has arrived. On Sunday 25 May, San Siro becomes Italy’s hottest arena: AC Milan face Cagliari in the final Serie A matchday, with something enormous at stake. Qualification for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League hinges on these 90 minutes, and the Rossoneri have one categorical imperative: win.
No tables to check at the final whistle, no calculations on other teams’ results. Milan must do their part, close the season on 73 points and look in the mirror knowing they gave everything in a genuinely difficult campaign — one marked by a second-half season and the opening months of 2026 that Massimo Allegri himself bluntly described as «tragic».
The atmosphere at San Siro: Gerry Cardinale expected in attendance
The match promises to be fiery off the pitch too. Gerry Cardinale, RedBird Capital owner and AC Milan’s top man, is expected to be present at San Siro. His attendance will not go unnoticed: the Milanista fanbase may seize the opportunity to voice its frustration towards an ownership group that, over the past four years, has made significant mistakes both on the technical and managerial front. The Cagliari game therefore risks becoming an evening of reckoning, on and off the pitch.
The probable line-up: Allegri sticks with the 3-5-2
Allegri keeps faith with his tactical philosophy and lines up in a 3-5-2, the system that has defined much of the Rossoneri’s season. The expected starting eleven:
- Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
- Defence: Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović
- Midfield: Saelemaekers, Fofana, Jashari, Rabiot, Bartesaghi
- Attack: Nkunku, Santiago Giménez
Key talking points and selection decisions
In defence, Fikayo Tomori is confirmed from the first minute, having already featured in the crucial win over Genoa. The English centre-back keeps his place despite talk of a possible change in recent weeks.
In midfield, the big news is the return of Alexis Saelemaekers after suspension: the Belgian reclaims his wide role. Youssouf Fofana and Adrien Rabiot are confirmed in the engine room, while Ardon Jashari starts in place of Luka Modrić — the Croatian, barely used over the past month as his minutes were managed carefully, will begin on the bench but is ready to make an impact in the second half. Davide Bartesaghi completes the midfield on the left flank.
Up front, Christopher Nkunku earns the starting shirt after a strong end to the season. Alongside him, Santiago Giménez. The Mexican striker arrives at this fixture carrying a heavy statistic: zero goals and zero assists in Serie A in nearly 900 minutes across 15 appearances, with a lengthy absence due to ankle surgery weighing on his campaign. His last league goal dates back more than a year. Milan vs Cagliari could be the turning point for the former Feyenoord forward, who did find the net in the Coppa Italia. Every Rossoneri fan will be hoping he delivers on Sunday.
A mini pre-match camp at Milanello
To prepare properly for the fixture, the squad held a three-day mini-camp at Milanello — Friday, Saturday and Sunday up to departure for San Siro — a clear signal of unity and focus. Allegri wanted his players close, compact and ready for the big occasion.
Forza Milan: these 90 minutes are worth an entire season. The Rossoneri faithful are ready to roar.
