Seismic shift in Serie A as Milan and Juventus miss Champions League

May 25 : Juventus and AC Milan, two of Serie A's traditional titans, failed to qualify for the Champions League on Sunday, marking the first time in almost 35 years that neither will compete in Europe’s elite competition and provoking an identity crisis for a domestic game already under immense pressure.

In their place, Como, a club playing in the amateur tiers less than a decade ago, secured a historic berth in the tournament after just two seasons in the top flight. Since the European Cup was rebranded as the UEFA Champions League in 1992-93, at least one of Juventus or AC Milan had always been involved.

The absence marks a high point for Como, who finished fourth in the league, but a low point in a problematic season for the leading lights of Italian football, coming after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

This season also marked the first time since the 1986-87 campaign that Italian clubs have been completely shut out of the European semi-finals across all three major continental competitions.

BIG CHANGES IN MILAN

For seven-time European champions Milan, last winners in 2007, sweeping changes are ahead, leaving American-Italian owner Gerry Cardinale at a crossroads. Furious supporters hung banners outside his hotel and at San Siro stadium on Sunday with the message, "Go home: shame on you," after the club missed out on elite European competition for a second consecutive year.

The fallout from the 2-1 home defeat by Cagliari that sealed their fate in fifth place will trigger an immediate overhaul of the club's leadership, according to Italian media. Head coach Massimiliano Allegri’s position is under intense scrutiny, alongside the futures of several first-team players.

Former Milan