AC Milan dropped further points in the Serie A title race after a thrilling 3-3 draw at struggling Cagliari on Saturday, despite leading twice.
The 19-time league champions remain in seventh place, now four points away from the Champions League spots and seven adrift of league leaders Napoli.
Rafael Leao scored twice in the first half to give Milan the lead after Nadir Zortea’s early goal for Cagliari.
Cagliari equalised early in the second half through Gabriele Zappa, but Tammy Abraham put the Rossoneri back in front before Zappa struck again with a stunning equaliser in the closing minutes.
“This draw is clearly a step backwards,” Milan coach Paulo Fonseca told DAZN, referencing his side’s midweek 3-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid. “Our issue today was our defence — we lacked aggression, allowed too many crosses, and lost too many aerial duels. Winning in those conditions isn’t possible.”
For Cagliari, the draw moves them up to 16th place on 10 points, just one clear of the relegation zone.
Zortea gave Cagliari the ideal start, firing home at the back post from a corner just two minutes in.
Leao equalised 13 minutes later with a well-taken lob after Tijjani Reijnders’ pinpoint lofted pass sent him behind the defence. The Portuguese winger then struck again five minutes before half-time, with Youssouf Fofana setting him up with a long pass that Leao controlled and rounded the goalkeeper to score.
Nine minutes into the second half, Fofana’s defensive error allowed Zappa to break through and finish past Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Abraham appeared to have sealed the win for Milan with his second goal of the season, tapping in on 69 minutes. But with just one minute left, Zappa equalised with a powerful volley from a looping cross, beating Maignan before he could react.
Elsewhere, Parma came from behind to secure a 2-1 away win against fellow strugglers Venezia. Hans Nicolussi Caviglia opened the scoring for the hosts, but goals from Emanuele Valeri and Ange-Yoan Bonny lifted Parma to 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone. Venezia remain at the foot of the table with eight points after suffering their eighth loss in 12 matches since returning to Serie A.
Later, Juventus will attempt to close the four-point gap to leaders Napoli, hosting city rivals Torino.
On Sunday, the standout fixture is Napoli’s visit to second-placed Inter Milan, with Antonio Conte’s side just one point above last season’s champions.