AC Milan is third in Serie A 2025-26 standings with 67 points from 35 games. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ten-man AC Milan suffered a setback in its bid to ​secure a Champions League spot following a 2-0 ‌defeat at Sassuolo in Serie A 2025-26 ​on Sunday.

The result ended Milan’s ⁠slim title hopes as it trails leader Inter Milan, which plays Parma later on ‌Sunday, by 12 points with three matches left in the season.

Inter ‌leads second-placed Napoli by nine ‌points ⁠and can clinch the title ⁠later on Sunday with a point at home to Parma.

Milan remains third on 67 points, but its position is ‌under threat as fourth-placed Juventus trails it by three points ahead of its home game against already-relegated Hellas ‌Verona. Como is fifth on 62 ​points, with AS Roma sixth on 61 before hosting Fiorentina on ⁠Monday.

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The top four qualify for next season’s Champions League group stage.

Sassuolo struck early ‌when Domenico Berardi gave the host the lead in the fifth minute, curling a first-time effort low into the corner.

Milan’s task became significantly tougher in the 24th minute when defender ‌Fikayo Tomori was sent off for a second ​yellow card after tripping Armand Lauriente during a counter-attack.

Lauriente sealed ⁠the victory two minutes after the restart, ⁠firing a low shot into the near corner from a tight ‌angle at the edge of the box to secure the points for ​Sassuolo.

Published on May 03, 2026