Originally, Romelu Lukaku and Khviča Kvaratskhelia were meant to join Napoli under Antonio Conte this summer. When it became apparent that the deal was falling through and that Kvaratskhelia was set to depart from southern Italy, the Azzurri coach had an effective plan B that proved sufficient for winning the Scudetto.

The Neapolitans claimed the Italian championship for the second time in three years, with the standout players being the Belgian and surprisingly Scott McTominay.

The Scot is now in the running for the MVP award after consistently contributing to his team this season—scoring the decisive goal with an acrobatic half-scissors kick from the edge of the box in the victory over Cagliari that secured the title…

McTominay has netted 12 goals and provided four assists in Serie A this season, while Lukaku has contributed 14 goals and 10 assists. These stats clearly display their critical role in securing the title for Conte, all while the Napoli president spent only a fraction, a few hundred thousand, of the over 60 million euros allocated for both players this summer.

Here are the players who made a mark on the European football weekend:

THE GOALKEEPER

Falcons (Lens) – Lecce played with ten men for nearly 50 minutes at the Olimpico, and despite Lazio’s best efforts, they couldn’t overcome the Falcons. Lecce celebrates survival, while the “sky blues” will not be competing in Europe next season.

DEFENSE

Colwill (Chelsea) – Chelsea’s fortunes are never the same whether they’re in the Champions League or not. Thanks to Colwill, elite competition will return to Stamford Bridge in the 2025/26 season.

Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) – He played a pivotal role in securing all domestic trophies for the “Saints,” and now they aim for European glory.

THE MIDFIELD

Gündoğan (Manchester City) – He scored a stunning goal in the latest Premier League round against Fulham. Upon his return to the Etihad this summer, he certainly didn’t foresee City not clinching any trophies within the next year.

McTominay (Napoli) – A dream season culminated with the Scudetto—Napoli could not have invested 30 million euros more wisely.

Locatelli (Juventus) – His performance was inconsistent, much like the whole Juventus squad. However, he will be remembered for scoring the penalty that secured the “old lady” a spot in the Champions League.

THE ATTACK

Lukaku (Napoli) – Conte and Lukaku have a strong partnership, which was showcased during their time in Napoli, a chapter likely coming to a close soon as the seasoned coach prepares to leave the club.

Lewandowski (Barcelona) – Had Hansi Flick managed to keep him healthy towards the end of the season, particularly in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter, Barca might be in pursuit of a fourth trophy by now.

Mbappé (Real Madrid) – Although he didn’t win a trophy with the “royal club,” he delivered on all expectations, finishing as the top scorer in La Liga with 31 goals.

Kane (Fiorentina) – The undisputed leader of “Viola,” the only question remains how long the club can hold onto him.

Undav (Stuttgart) – His presence was undeniable as the “Slavs” celebrated their first German Cup victory in 28 years. AH

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