Welcome to the Euro Recap, a fresh Sky Sports feature where Adam Bate curates the most compelling narratives from this week’s continental fixtures. This edition covers a range of stories, from a surprising start to the German Supercup to dramatic finishes in Spain, Italy and beyond. In Dortmund, the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown. Fans expected Harry Kane, fresh from a prolific season in which he netted 73 goals for Bayern Munich, to make an immediate impact.
Instead, the opening goal of Bayern’s 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund came from Nathaniel Brown, a 23‑year‑old who slipped past the defence on the left flank and finished low into the corner before halftime. Bate travelled to Bayern’s training ground to explore why the club has placed a new emphasis on Kane winning the Ballon d’Or. The discussion highlighted the strategic shift towards a more versatile attacking setup, with the former Eintracht Frankfurt left‑back now occupying the No 10 position ahead of fellow newcomer Ismael Saibari. Brown’s goal, though, underscored the unpredictable nature of the match – he surged down the left wing in the 43rd minute, narrowly missing the far post, only to rebound with a clever turn that set up Kane’s follow‑up shot, which drifted just over the bar.
After the game, Kane praised Brown’s adaptability, noting that while the youngster was playing out of his usual role, his technical skill and composure in tight spaces were evident. Brown, described by Kane as "very versatile," had already found the net in pre‑season, but Bate observed that he still needs to become more involved in the team’s passing sequences, as he touched the ball only sparingly before his 28th‑minute strike. Across the channel, the Spanish giants kicked off their LaLiga campaigns with contrasting fortunes.
Barcelona demolished Elche 5‑0, with Anthony Gordon providing two assists on his debut, while Real Madrid scraped a 2‑1 win at Espanyol thanks to a dramatic 90th‑minute goal. The scorer, Carlos Espi, pounced on a loose ball in the box and was immediately embraced by manager Jose Mourinho, who celebrated the goal as a sign of his side’s resilience.
Bate also sat down with Tyrhys Dolan to discuss the English winger’s evolving responsibilities at Espanyol, noting how the club’s training ground routine now includes daily breakfasts shared between players and coaches. This camaraderie is especially beneficial for the 6‑foot‑4 striker signed from Levante, who, though not the most high‑profile addition, could become a pivotal outlet for Mourinho’s attack.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has likened Espi to "Joselu Junior," a nod to the former striker who delivered crucial goals for Madrid, including two late winners against Bayern Munich in the 2024 Champions League final. At 21, Espi offers a different dimension to Mourinho’s forward line, complementing Barcelona’s mobile forward Raphinha, who currently fills a similar role for the Catalans. In the German Bundesliga, the Brazilian forward (presumably Raphinha) netted a brace against Elche, showcasing Hansi Flick’s preference for wide‑area creativity. Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal remained quiet, but Karim Adeyemi made a notable debut, scoring and assisting, while Gordon’s substitute appearance added further depth to Barcelona’s attacking options.
Bate examined Barcelona’s decision to acquire Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, suggesting that the club may also consider Hamza Abdelkarim, who impressed during a pre‑season friendly at St Andrew’s against Birmingham. This could provide an alternative to Julian Alvarez, who was met with boos from Atletico Madrid supporters during their 2‑2 draw with Villarreal. LaLiga results were as follows: Real Betis 1‑0 Real Sociedad, Athletic Club 1‑3 Sevilla, Valencia 0‑0 Celta Vigo, Espanyol 1‑2 Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid 2‑2 Villarreal, Getafe 1‑0 Racing Santander, and Elche 0‑5 Barcelona. Moving to Italy, Ruben Amorim’s debut as AC Milan manager ended in a 2‑1 away victory over Torino, with Scotland striker Che Adams delivering an inventive volley.
Juventus and Napoli also secured away wins, the latter thanks to a late Kevin De Bruyne strike. Maurizio Sarri’s first match in charge of Atalanta concluded with a win over Sassolo, though all three clubs will face a daunting task in challenging Inter Milan’s dominance. Inter opened their title defence with a commanding 4‑1 win over Monza.
Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring with a spectacular strike, followed by a back‑heeled finish from Pio Esposito, both assisted by Andy Diouf. The match also highlighted Inter’s depth: with Denzel Dumfries having departed for Real Madrid, England’s Djed Spence is expected to fill the right wing‑back role long‑term, while midfielder Andy Diouf impressed playing out of position. John Stones entered as a substitute for Manuel Akanji, and both Spence and Curtis Jones observed from the bench.
Serie A results: Inter 4‑1 Monza, Udinese 1‑1 Como, Napoli 2‑0 Genoa, Cagliari 1‑0 Parma, Juventus 1‑0 Frosinone, Lecce 2‑0 Venezia, Atalanta 2‑1 Sassuolo, AC Milan 2‑1 Torino. In France, Paris Saint‑Germain continued a shaky start, drawing 2‑2 with Rennes after Ferran Torres, a World Cup hero, rescued a point with two goals in a match relocated from Paris due to the poor condition of the Parc des Princes pitch.
PSG’s recent schedule has been demanding: after a narrow win over a weakened Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, they suffered a defeat to Lens in the Trophée des Champions, despite Lens playing most of the second half with ten men. Luis Enrique’s rotation policy will be under scrutiny this season.
Comparisons have been drawn to Paulo Fonseca’s bold decision at Lyon, where he changed all eleven starters against Toulouse and secured a 2‑0 victory, a move that paid off in a crucial Champions League play‑off against Fenerbahçe. Marseille provided a bright spot in Ligue 1, thrashing Strasbourg 4‑0.
Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg, stripped of the captaincy earlier in the week, responded by scoring the final goal, a testament to his standing among teammates. Højbjerg recently rejected a transfer, frustrating Marseille’s owners who are eager to offload his wages amid a lack of Champions League football.
Head coach Bruno Genesio publicly criticized the decision, positioning himself as a defender of the squad’s unity. Ligue 1 results: Marseille 4‑0 Strasbourg, Lens 5‑2 Auxerre, Le Mans 2‑2 Brest, Nice 0‑0 Lorient, Lyon 2‑0 Toulouse, Paris FC 0‑0 Troyes, Lille 2‑0 Angers, Monaco 1‑0 Le Havre, PSG 2‑2 Rennes. In the Eredivisie, AZ Alkmaar remain unbeaten, preserving a perfect record, while newly promoted Marítimo briefly topped Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
An interview with the club’s president highlighted the emotional significance of returning to top‑flight football for the island of Madeira. The most surprising headline came from Turkey, where Mohamed Salah made a sensational home‑league debut for Trabzonspor, scoring twice in a 2‑1 victory over İstanbul Başakşehir. His first goal was a scrappy finish, but the second showcased his trademark clever give‑and‑go before slotting the ball low into the far corner.
Salah also had two goals ruled out for offside and received a booking for simulation, underscoring a dramatic first appearance. His arrival has already sparked excitement, with many labeling him the biggest star ever to play in Turkey.
Overall, this week’s Euro Debrief captures a blend of unexpected twists, emerging talents, and managerial narratives that will shape the rest of the season across Europe.