Serie A giants are dead: Milan and Juve collapse as Roma and Como storm into the Champions League

Tradition, historic stature and institutional influence no longer guarantee success in Italian football. AC Milan and Juventus have lost a race they once used to win almost effortlessly. Alongside champions Inter and runners-up Napoli, it will be AS Roma and Como representing Serie A in next season's Champions League. Both have earned it beyond any doubt.

Roma timed their run to perfection. The Giallorossi closed the season with five consecutive victories, including last night's 2-0 win away at Verona, to finish third.

Como, meanwhile, played some of the most exciting football in Italy throughout the campaign and sealed a remarkable fourth-place finish with a commanding 4-1 victory over Cremonese. The defeat also confirmed Cremonese's relegation back to Serie B.

The biggest loser of the night was Milan. Despite their dreadful form, the Rossoneri had a golden opportunity at San Siro against Cagliari, and even took the lead after just two minutes through Alexis Saelemaekers. But once again, they collapsed under pressure. Gennaro Borrelli equalised in the 20th minute before Juan Rodriguez completed the turnaround midway through the second half.

Milan pushed desperately for an equaliser during the final half-hour, yet Cagliari looked closer to scoring a third than the hosts did to finding a second. Paul Mendy squandered a massive chance in the 87th minute when he found himself through on goal, only to be denied by Mike Maignan. In the end, the Rossoneri simply could not rescue themselves.

Juventus' clash with Torino was delayed by 45 minutes due to crowd trouble ahead of the derby, but by kick-off, the result had already become almost irrelevant following victories for Roma and Como. Even if it had mattered, Juventus still would not have delivered. The Bianconeri threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 in another bitter collapse.

Roma, meanwhile, carried enormous pressure into the clash at the Bentegodi, and it showed throughout a tense first half. Gian Piero Gasperini deployed his strongest attacking lineup, with Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule operating behind Donyell Malen, yet the visitors lacked sharpness in the final third despite controlling possession.

The turning point came in the 50th minute, when Nicolas Valentini dragged down Dybala from behind and referee Simone Sozza immediately showed him a red card. Just four minutes later, Kieran Bowie handled the ball inside the penalty area. Even Malen seemed overwhelmed by the occasion as Lorenzo Montipo saved his penalty, but Dybala reacted quickest. Positioned just outside the box, almost as if he anticipated the rebound, the Argentine returned the ball first time to Malen, allowing the Dutchman to score his 14th goal of the season.

Roma managed the remainder of the match professionally before sealing qualification on the counterattack. Dybala produced a clever backheel into the path of Stephan El Shaarawy, who finished calmly to confirm the Giallorossi's return to the Champions League on what was an emotional farewell appearance in Roma colours.

Como completed their dream campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Cremonese, helped further by Milan's defeat to Cagliari at San Siro. For Cremonese, the loss meant relegation despite an encouraging start to the season.

Cesc Fabregas' side took the lead in the 36th minute through Jesus Rodríguez, whose effort took a deflection off Alberto Grassi. Early in the second half, Rodriguez then assisted Anastasios Douvikas for Como's second. Cremonese briefly responded through Federico Bonacoli from the penalty spot after Sergio Ramos fouled Jamie Vardy inside the area, but Como never lost control and celebrated a historic feat.

SERIE A - ROUND 38

Friday

Fiorentina - Atalanta 1-1 (1-0)

/Piccoli 39 - Comuzzo 82(og)/

Saturday

Lazio - Pisa 2-1 (2-1)

/Dele-Bashiru 33, Pedro 35 - Moreo 23/

Bologna - Inter 3-3 (2-1)

/Bernardeschi 25, Pobega 42, Zielinski 48(og) - Dimarco 22, Esposito 64, Diouf 85/

Sunday

Parma - Sassuolo 1-0 (0-0)

/Pellegrino 80/

Napoli - Udinese 1-0 (1-0)

/Hojlund 24/

Cremonese - Como 1-4 (0-1)

/Bonazzoli 55 pen - Rodriguez 36, Douvikas 51, Da Cunha 74,81/

Lecce - Genoa 1-0 (1-0)

/Banda 6/

Milan - Cagliari 1-2 (1-1)

/Saelemaekers 2 - Borrelli 20, Rodriguez 57/

Torino - Juventus 2-2 (0-1)

/Casadei 60, Adams 84 - Vlahovic 24,54/

Verona - Roma 0-2 (0-0)

/Malen 56, El Shaarawy 90+3/