Dead Ball Digest: Champions, Farewells & European Tickets

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Napoli 2 vs Cagliari 0

Napoli are champions! Scott McTominay won his first league title and the Serie A MVP award in his debut season. Antonio Conte, once again, managed to get the maximum out of his squad, even though their depth was more limited compared to their rivals. He became the first manager to win Serie A with three different clubs, Juventus (3), Inter (1), and now Napoli (1), increasing his personal collection to five league titles. Grande Conte!

What makes their success even more impressive is how they achieved it despite losing their two biggest stars, Osimhen before the season, and Kvaratskhelia midseason. In the final match, Conte’s Napoli were in total control: xG was 2.5 vs 0.11, total shots 18 vs 4, shots on target 6 vs 1, entries into the final third 54 vs 29, and touches in the box 36 vs 16. A well-deserved Conte-style triumph sealed the title.

Figure 1: Four stats describing McTominay’s brilliance this season (x:Aerial Duels Won, y: G+A, Bubble Size: GCA and Bubble Color: Touches in the Opp.Box)

Como 0 vs Inter 2

Inter did their job with a win away at Como, in a game in which Como's goalkeeper, Pepe Reina (43), was sent off with a dramatic red card, officially ending his long career. It was a disappointing end of the season for Inter and Simone Inzaghi. After winning their 20th title last year and getting “second star,” they couldn’t make it back-to-back. Indeed, it was an opportunity season, as Juventus and Milan are still in the recovery period, however, Napoli took full advantage of the situation.

While the team impressed in Europe, their domestic form wasn't as impressive. They were knocked out by Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, lost the Supercoppa to them too, and now only the Champions League final vs PSG stands between Inzaghi and an empty season.

In terms of squad depth, options were limited, especially up front. While Lautaro was consistent through the season, Thuram slowed down after a bright start, Taremi scored just once in 26 appearances, and Arnautovic only scored four in 18. Unlike their defence, the attacking rotation didn’t work. The second big issue? Inter’s failure in big games. Against the league’s top nine, they won just five of 16 matches, 21 points from a possible 48. You don’t win titles with results like that. Now, Inzaghi’s down to one last shot. All eyes are on the Allianz Arena.

Real Betis 1 vs Valencia 1

The La Liga season ended with a 1–1 draw at the Benito Villamarin for Betis and Valencia, as both sides shared the points on the final matchday. But Betis’ campaign isn’t over yet, they’ll face Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League Final on Wednesday in Wrocław. It was a decent season for Betis as they will play in their first-ever European final. On the other side, Valencia turned things around after a difficult first half, where relegation fears were very real. Under Carlos Corberan, they found their feet and completed the campaign safely mid-table.

Betis were the better side most of the match, with final third entries 60 vs 48, shots inside the box 10 vs 6, touches in the opposition box 25 vs 14, and a slight xG edge 0.91 vs 0.74, but struggled in finishing. Anthony finished his first La Liga season with 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 appearances, starting 15 of them. He also contributed 4 goals and 3 assists in the Conference League, a promising performance on both fronts.

As for Isco, the resurgence continues. Unlike his time at Sevilla, the 33-year-old looks reborn in green and white. He’s delivered 12 goals and 10 assists this season, surpassing last year’s numbers of 9 goals and 7 assists, and he’s not just adding stats. Against Valencia, he was everywhere: 5 key passes, 3 accurate crosses, 2 interceptions, and an 86% pass completion rate. Clear man of the match. Statistically and tactically, he’s been one of La Liga’s best progressive passers this season. A real revival story.

Figure 2: Statistical Analysis of La Liga Performance Highlighting Isco's Efficiency

Real Madrid 2 vs Real Sociedad 0

Real Madrid ended their La Liga season with a 2–0 win over Real Sociedad, a game that farewelled Carlo Ancelotti, Luka Modric and Lucas Vázquez. While Ancelotti's next challenge is leading the Brazil national team, Luka Modric will leave the club after the Club World Cup next month. Modric, now a certified club legend, finished as the 9th most-capped player in club history with 591 appearances, 43 goals, and 95 assists.

As for the match, Madrid were in full control, with 2.58 xG vs Sociedad’s 0.80, and 41 touches inside the opposition box compared to Sociedad’s 16. Mbappe scored twice, however, Arda Güler was the star of the game. The 19-year-old delivered a solid performance: 92% pass accuracy, 5/7 on long balls, 3 key passes, 0.40 xA, 7/10 duels won, and 3 touches inside the box.

The most noteworthy detail about the game wasn't the stats, but the way Real Madrid played with Arda. Every time a player received the ball in the final third, their first instinct was to look for Arda. It didn’t feel like a late-season experiment; it felt like something they’d been working on for months, with Arda at the center of the plan. Like a story quietly written in the background. Now, all eyes turn to the Xabi Alonso era. If we think of him as a chef, stepping into one of the finest kitchens in football, then Arda Güler is likely to become one of his signature dishes, shaped, seasoned, and served on the biggest stage.

Figure 3: Luka Modric with numbers compared to some R.Madrid legends

Psg 3 vs Reims 0

Paris Saint-Germain have done the treble again, Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Super Cup. That’s two seasons in a row now. Next up? The one they’ve been dreaming about for years: the Champions League. In the cup final, they absolutely dominated from start to finish, 3.17 vs 0.17 in xG, and a wild 64 touches in the opposition box compared to just 2 for Reims. Pure control. While the team looked sharp overall, a few individuals really stood out: Achraf Hakimi (1 goal), Bradley Barcola (2 goals and an assist), Fabian Ruiz, and Desire Doue.

Hakimi, in particular, was everywhere with 94% pass accuracy, 4 key passes, 7 duels won out of 11, and a goal to top it all off. As for Reims, just reaching the final for the first time in 48 years was a moment to remember. But they’ve got bigger problems now, they’ll face Metz on Thursday in a relegation playoff to stay in Ligue 1. The first leg ended 1–1. The pressure’s on.

Arminia Bielefeld 2 vs Stuttgart 4

A fairy-tale cup performance by 3. Liga underdog Arminia Bielefeld was not enough to overcome VfB Stuttgart's more experienced team. Before the match, the news of Angelo Stiller returning to the line-up had boosted Stuttgart's team's confidence. Indeed, he provided 2 assists and brought both tactical sharpness and efficiency to the midfield. This season, Stiller has transformed into a brilliant connection player, becoming a key figure who brings energy and presence all over the pitch. He finished the season with 4 goals and 11 assists, providing opportunities for his teammates and controlling the tempo of the match.

Another breakout player for Stuttgart this season was Nick Woltemade. If German football has a new star on the rise, it’s definitely him. The young striker is stylish and clinical with his goal-scoring ability. He has 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances, and after Demirovic, he is the second most prolific player of Stuttgart. No surprise he got the call-up from Julian Nagelsmann for the Nations League semi-final against Portugal next month.

And we can’t forget Enzo Millot, man of the match with his double, 7 times finding himself in the opposition box, winning more than half of his duels (4/7), and an xG of 1.51. If you want to dive deeper, check out our midweek analysis here on Millot in the style of Kevin De Bruyne.

With this victory, Stuttgart lifted their fourth cup trophy after 1954, 1958, and 1997, a moment full of emotion for the fans and the club. Huge congratulations to Sebastian Hoeneß and the entire squad for closing a challenging season on such a high note.

Figure 4: The Four Horsemen of VfB Stuttgart

Sheffield United 1 vs Sunderland 2

Burnley, Leeds United and now we know the third one! Sunderland secured a dramatic victory in the world's most expensive match, valued at £200 million, earning their return to the Premier League after 8 years. The game was dramatic and heart-stopping, from key turning points to a last-minute winner in extra time.

Despite the nail-biting finish, the stats show that actually Sheffield United were the more dominant side throughout the match, with an xG of 1.49 vs Sunderland’s 0.71, and 4 shots on target vs Sunderland's 3. Yet it was Sunderland who came to life in the final 15 minutes, riding the momentum to deliver a sensational finish.

For Sunderland, the best player was centre-back Daniel Ballard. He won 10 out of 13 aerial duels, dominated 11 of 14 tackles, cleared the ball 14 times, and completed passes with an impressive 87% accuracy, one of the hidden heroes of Sunderland’s Premier League push.

Big credit to manager Regis Le Bris for this promotion. His strategic substitutions and motivational leadership played a crucial role in maintaining the team's resilience and focus during the high-stakes games. The young squad, with an average age of 22.4, grew under his leadership. Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg, and Eliezer Mayenda are clear examples.

When the season began, no one really believed in him, just another average coach without any achievements in France. But he overturned all doubts and played a key role in this incredible success story.

Premier League Final Day - What Happened?

The final week of the Premier League season brought all the drama we hoped for; goals, nerves, and the final word on who’s heading to Europe. With Liverpool and Arsenal already confirmed, they took it easy on the final day. Meanwhile, Manchester City got the job done away at Fulham, with İlkay Gündoğan and Erling Haaland getting on the scoresheet. (xG: 1.74 vs 2.84)

Newcastle United lost 1-0 at home to Everton, but as a result of Man. United’s win over Aston Villa, they still secured 5th place and secured their Champions League spot. The Magpies will be back in the CL for the second time in three seasons. About the game: Newcastle dominated the box entries (28 vs 13) and had the better chances (xG: 1.27 vs 0.99), but the difference-maker was Everton’s Jordan Pickford with 6 saves, and an xGOTC of 2.15.

Chelsea had arguably the toughest fixture on paper, an away trip to Forest, yet they managed a crucial victory with the goal from Colwill. After two years out of the Champions League, the Blues are back. Enzo Maresca had a successful debut season. Short game report: xG: 1.35 vs 1.07, final third entries 63 vs 57, penalty area entries 48 vs 17.

So here’s the final picture of the Premier League: Next season, six English teams will compete in the Champions League - Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Aston Villa and FA Cup winners Crystal Palace will play in the Europa League. Quick reminder: Unai Emery has won that trophy four times; three with Sevilla, once with Villarreal. A real specialist. Maybe fifth with Aston Villa?

And what about Nottingham Forest? After 21 years, they’re back in Europe, securing a spot in the Conference League with a 7th-place finish.

One last note: Chelsea’s upcoming Conference League final against Real Betis won’t impact the Premier League’s European spots for next season.

For the individual records: Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has won the 2024-25 Golden Boot (29 goals, 18 assists).

It is the fourth season that Salah has finished as Premier League's leading scorer, tied with Arsenal icon Thierry Henry's record for most Golden Boots. Salah also matched the single-season record for most combined goals and assists by a player. He joined Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, each producing 47 goals involvement.

For the Golden Glove award, Arsenal's David Raya and Nottingham Forest's Matz Sels have become joint winners with 13 clean sheets.

Figure 5: Premier League Final League Table

Serie A Final Day

The Serie A title was already decided on Friday, but there was still something on the line for the final matchday, especially the last Champions League ticket and the remaining European spots. Juventus defeated Venezia with a tight 3-2 win, by Locatelli’s penalty. That win secured them 4th place and a spot in next season’s Champions League, a huge relief after a tough season.

In one of the weekend’s most dramatic moments, Parma made a wild comeback at Atalanta. They were down 2-0 at the break, however they came back and grabbed a 3-2 win with a last-minute goal. That result secured them a place in Serie A. As for Atalanta, they had already claimed 3rd place, so nothing was lost.

Roma, on the other hand, are the most in-form team of Europe's big 5 leagues, finished the league in fifth position and booked their Europa League ticket for next season. Claudio Ranieri will transition from his current role as head coach of AS Roma to a senior advisory position. He will serve as a sports advisor to the club’s ownership, providing guidance on sporting matters, including the selection of the next head coach.

The biggest heartbreak? Lazio. They failed at home, losing 1-0 to relegation-fighting Lecce and that loss cost them a spot in Europe. They finished 7th, just behind Fiorentina on goal difference. No European football for them next season. This will impact their plans for next season. But, I do not think they will leave with Marco Baroni.

As for relegation: Monza, Venezia, and Empoli are heading down.

Top scorer this season: Mateo Retegui led the line with 25 goals. Moise Kean ranked second with 19 for Fiorentina. Riccardo Orsolini and Ademola Lookman shared third place with 15 each. And for assists, it was a two-way tie at the top: Christian Pulisic, and Raoul Bellanova both finished with 11 assists. Right behind them were Lukaku and Rafael Leão, both with 10.

Benfica 1 vs Sporting Lisbon 2

Just when everyone thought Benfica had the cup in the bag, a surprise appeared: Viktor Gyökeres. In the 90+10th minute, he won a penalty and changed everything completely.

Benfica never recovered from the last minute shock. In extra time, first it was a Harder header in the 99th minute, then Trincao finished things off late to secure a dramatic win for Sporting Lisbon. The team celebrated the double in style.

Looking at the stats: xG 0.89 vs 2.42, box entries 28 vs 31. Benfica’s young keeper Samuel Soares had a standout performance despite the loss, with 7 saves and a 2.70 xGOTC. On the other side, Trincao, Gyökeres, and Hjulmand were the key players of the victory, but let’s not forget keeper Rui da Silva, who also had a solid performance with an xGOTC of 1.47.

And finally, the season wrap for Viktor Gyökeres: 52 appearances, 54 goals, 12 assists. That's an insane performance. Where will he be next season? The Premier League looks like the most likely option, but don’t ignore a Serie A move either.

Figure 6: Viktor Gyökeres season stats comparison with forwards in Big 5 Leagues

⚽️ Quickfire Takeaways⚡️: No time for deep dives, just football espresso shots

📌Arsenal and Barcelona met in the UEFA Women's Champions League final at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Arsenal won 1-0 with Stina Blacstenius’s goal. Expected goals (xG) were 0.51 for Arsenal and 0.87 for Barcelona, with Arsenal having 18 and Barcelona 38 penalty box entries. The victory marked Arsenal’s second European title, the first one was in 2007. Arsenal are still the only English club to have won this cup.

📌Real Madrid has officially announced that Xabi Alonso as their new manager and he is contracted until summer 2028.

📌In the final match of the Belgian League's Championship Group, Union Saint-Gilloise defeated Gent 3-1 at home, clinching the league title for the first time in 90 years.

📌In the Scottish FA Cup final, Aberdeen defeated Celtic on penalties to win the trophy. You can watch it here.

📌In the final match of the LaLiga season, Atletico Madrid defeated Girona 4-0 away. Alexander Sorloth became the first player to score a hat-trick off the bench in any of Europe's top 5 leagues this season.

📌Barcelona completed La Liga season with 102 goals. In 17 league games this season, they've scored three or more goals!

📌In the Play-Off final to determine the final team promoted to the English Championship, Charlton defeated Leyton Orient 1-0. Birmingham and Wrexham were the other two teams promoted to the Championship at the end of the regular season.

📌Rijeka won the Croatian league title. The team ended the eight-year dominance of Dinamo Zagreb.

📌Bayer Leverkusen have appointed Erik ten Hag as their new head coach to replace Xabi Alonso.

📌(Thumbnail Photo Source : Goal.Com)

That’s all for this week.

Almost every league in Europe have finished, only the Conference League and Champions League finals are left.

Our weekly publication, Dead Ball Digest will have a break, but the pace won’t slow down. Expect transfer analysis, scouting insights, DoppelScout updates and the latest academic studies reshaping how we understand the game.

The pitches may be empty, but our minds are still running. Feel free to contact us, and catch up soon! 🚀