Victors and Vanquished: McTominay Shines as Napoli Seizes Championship; Aston Villa Faces Disappointment

Kylian Mbappé, Scott McTominay, and Sunderland were the standout winners over the weekend, while Aston Villa and Lazio experienced particularly disappointing results. Flashscore provides an overview of the heroes and villains from the latest round of football action.

After enduring criticism last season at PSG and facing further scrutiny upon his arrival at Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé has finally silenced his doubters. Although he could not lead his team to any silverware, the No. 9 excelled individually, finishing as Europe’s top scorer— a feat not achieved by a French player since Thierry Henry two decades ago.

With an impressive tally of 43 goals and five assists across 56 matches in all competitions, Mbappé has enjoyed a remarkable season.

Aston Villa, who have been chasing Champions League qualification throughout the season, fell short in their final match on Sunday. The Villans, under the guidance of coach Unai Emery, were undone by some contentious refereeing decisions, resulting in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. Finishing sixth in the standings, they ended the campaign level on points with Newcastle and will have to settle for a spot in the Europa League for the 2025/2026 season.

In a surprising turn, few would have predicted that a Scot with no prior experience outside British football would thrive in Italy. However, Scott McTominay capped off an exceptional individual season by helping keep Inter at bay on the final day of the league. The former Manchester United midfielder also played a crucial role in securing the title by netting the opening goal in a 2-0 victory against Cagliari.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the Serie A table, AC Milan ended their campaign with a narrow 2-0 win over Monza. With 63 points, the Rossoneri finished eighth and will miss out on European competition next season for the first time since 2020.

The disappointment of their Italian Cup final loss to Bologna is likely to linger, prompting expectations of an overhaul during the summer to rejuvenate the squad. Lazio, too, will not be featured in Europe for the 2025/2026 season. Their Roman rivals have fared better, benefitting from the management of Claudio Ranieri, despite AS Roma being well off the pace at the start of the season.

In Portugal, contrasting fortunes unfolded as Sporting Lisbon once again prevailed over their rivals Benfica. With a last-minute goal from hero Viktor Gyökeres, the Lions sent shockwaves through the Eagles in the Portuguese Cup final, ultimately triumphing in extra time with a score of 3-1.

This marks Sporting’s first domestic double since 2002, and there are likely to be significant changes to their squad once again.

In a shocking turn of events, Benfica has had everything slip away in just a few days. Angel Di Maria, in particular, said goodbye to the Lisbon club in the most painful manner, as the team suffered both league and cup defeats against their rivals. They are experiencing a tumultuous period, and as with every summer, potential transfers loom as they aim to reclaim the league title.

Eight years after their relegation from the Premier League, Sunderland’s fortunes have dramatically changed. On Sunday, under the management of Régis Le Bris, the team clinched promotion in injury time against Sheffield United.

The late hero was none other than young Englishman Tom Watson, who emerged from the youth ranks to score the decisive goal.

For the Blades, this outcome means they will remain in the Championship for another season, marking yet another difficult chapter following last year’s relegation. The question now is whether Sheffield United can regroup and make a push for promotion in 2025/2026.