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Milan crumbled in a 2-0 defeat to Sassuolo when down to 10 men for over an hour due to Fikayo Tomori’s red card, as Domenico Berardi and Armand Laurienté scored.

The Rossoneri could catch Napoli in second place with a victory and consolidate the Champions League spot, but Luka Modric’s season was over after surgery for a fractured cheekbone. Ardon Jashari stepped in, with Christopher Nkunku pushing off-form Christian Pulisic to the bench. Domenico Berardi was back after a two-match ban for the Neroverdi, though Darryl Bakola, Fali Cande, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo were injured.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It took under five minutes for Berardi to confirm his extraordinary record against Milan, as this was his 12th career goal past them. Kristian Thorstvedt robbed Jashari in midfield and it was quickly moved left to right, for Berardi to bend a first-time finish into the far bottom corner with the inside of the left foot.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Fabio Grosso (L), Head Coach of US Sassuolo reacts during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Moments later, Mike Maignan made a one-handed save on the M’Bala Nzola counter-attack, while both teams had penalty appeals waved away as Berardi had his arm behind his back, then Armand Laurienté went down too easily under pressure from Matteo Gabbia, the same with Christopher Nkunku at the other end.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Rafael Leao of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Rafael Leao wasted a golden opportunity when blasting wide with only the goalkeeper to beat after a defensive error sent him clear on goal.

Things went from bad to worse for Milan, as Fikayo Tomori brought down Laurienté on the counter for his second yellow card, leaving his team down to 10 for over an hour.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan reacts after Fabio Maresca, referee of the match shows to hi a red card during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Strahinja Pavlovic made a decisive block on Thorstvedt and Jay Idzes limped off injured, while Alexis Saelemaekers drilled wide.

Sassuolo doubled their lead within 90 seconds of the restart, as Laurienté completed a give and go with Thorstvedt just inside the area, the finish thumped low and hard into the near bottom corner.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Armand Laurienté of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Zachary Athekame fired over, while Nzola and Thorstvedt failed to keep their efforts on target, while both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alieu Fadera were booked for simulation in the box.

This result means that with a victory over Verona today, Juventus could catch Milan in joint third place, while they have failed to score in six of the last 10 games.

Sassuolo 2-0 Milan

Berardi 5 (S), Laurienté 47 (S)

Sent off: Tomori 24 (M)

03-05-2026 14:00 MatchDay 35 Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore

SAS
MIL Live 2 - 0

Player statistic

1st half
Domenico Berardi (Assist: Armand Lauriente) 5'    
    9' Fikayo Tomori
    24'
Fikayo Tomori Nemanja Matic 38'     2nd half
Armand Lauriente (Assist: Kristian Thorstvedt)

47'     Ulisses Garcia 57'         71' Samuele Ricci     77' Ruben Loftus-Cheek Cristian Volpato

89'     SAS MIL

Starting lineups

13 Stefano Turati Goalkeeper 21 Jay Idzes Defender 40' 6
Sebastian Walukiewicz Defender 80
Tarik Muharemovic Defender 23
Ulisses Garcia Defender 90
Ismaël Koné Midfielder 42
Kristian Thorstvedt Midfielder 18
Nemanja Matic Midfielder 46' 45
Armand Lauriente Attacker 85' 10
Domenico Berardi Attacker 59' 8
M’Bala Nzola Attacker 84' 16
Mike Maignan Goalkeeper 23
Fikayo Tomori Defender 46
Matteo Gabbia Defender 2
Pervis Estupiñán Defender 31
Strahinja Pavlovic Defender 12
Adrien Rabiot Midfielder 56
Alexis Saelemaekers Midfielder 59' 30
Ardon Jashari Midfielder 66' 19
Youssouf Fofana Midfielder 59' 18
Christopher Nkunku Attacker 46' 10
Rafael Leão Attacker

59'

Substitutes

19
Filippo Romagna Defender 12
Giacomo Satalino Goalkeeper 16 Gioele Zacchi Goalkeeper 24 Luca Moro Attacker 44 Edoardo Iannoni Midfielder 49
Arijanet Muric Goalkeeper 3
Josh Doig Defender 40
Aster Vranckx Midfielder 66 Pedro Felipe Defender 33 Christian Frangella Midfielder 25
Woyo Coulibaly Defender 40' 35 Luca Lipani Midfielder 46' 7 Cristian Volpato Midfielder 59' 99
Andrea Pinamonti Attacker 84' 20 Alieu Fadera Midfielder 85' 1
Pietro Terracciano Goalkeeper 5 Koni De Winter Defender 9
Niclas Füllkrug Attacker 33 Davide Bartesaghi Defender 37 Matteo Pittarella Goalkeeper 24
Zachary Athekame Defender 46' 8
Ruben Loftus-Cheek Midfielder 59' 11
Christian Pulisic Attacker 59' 7
Santiago Giménez Attacker 59' 4
Samuele Ricci Midfielder

66'

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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