Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate distills the most compelling narratives from the latest continental fixtures. This edition covers a whirlwind of action across Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Portugal, with a particular focus on how Jose Mourinho is unlocking Jude Bellingham's potential at Real Madrid. Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the season under Mourinho, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Malaga at the iconic Bernabeu.
While the opposition has not yet presented a heavyweight challenge, the win highlighted Mourinho’s growing ability to harness the depth and versatility of a squad that now boasts world‑class talent in almost every position. The Spaniards were clinical, with Trent Alexander‑Arnold delivering a trademark cross that produced an assist, and Kylian Mbappé extending his midweek hat‑trick against Real Sociedad with another goal. Yet it was Bellingham who stole the spotlight, operating in the No.10 role and dictating the tempo of the game.
Bellingham’s journey at Madrid has been a study in adaptation. Under Carlo Ancelotti, he was shuffled between deeper midfield slots, wide positions and even the striker’s role, reflecting his broad skill set.
Mourinho, however, has been explicit about his tactical vision: Bellingham should sit just behind Mbappé, linking play and exploiting the spaces that open up when the French forward drives forward. The result has been a seamless partnership that appears to be flourishing. In the Malaga match, Bellingham’s vision, ball retention and occasional forays into the box were instrumental in creating chances and maintaining pressure.
The rapport between player and manager may not be entirely surprising. In 2024, Bellingham humorously disclosed that Mourinho was his mother’s crush, a light‑hearted anecdote that hinted at a deeper mutual respect. Both men share an intense competitive drive and a demand for excellence from everyone around them. This shared mentality is evident in the way Madrid’s training sessions have reportedly become more disciplined, with Mourinho insisting on high‑intensity drills that push even the established stars.
The bench depth was on full display when Arda Güler entered the fray to net the fourth goal. Substitutes Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva also featured, while the bench also housed Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and recent hero Carlos Espinosa, underscoring the squad’s remarkable depth. Such a reservoir of talent allows Mourinho to rotate without a noticeable dip in quality, a luxury that many top clubs lack.
Looking ahead, the schedule will inevitably become more demanding. As noted in Marca, Madrid has historically stumbled in games that appear straightforward on paper.
So far, Mourinho has navigated these potential pitfalls adeptly, keeping key figures like Vinícius Júnior content and avoiding any public friction. The harmony within the dressing room is a promising sign for the challenges that lie ahead. Beyond Madrid, other LaLiga stories added flavor to the weekend.
Atletico Madrid halted Sevilla’s surprising surge with a solid win, while Troy Parrott impressed for Betis before they were overwhelmed by Levante. Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, at 37, continued his resurgence by scoring for Deportivo A Coruña in his third consecutive match. Racing Santander finally broke their early‑season duck, defeating Elche 3-2 in a match that showcased a brand of football rarely seen in Spain – a high‑press, quick‑transition style that left opponents scrambling.
The full slate of LaLiga results was as follows: Racing Santander 3-2 Elche, Alavés 1-0 Villarreal, Levante 5-2 Real Betis, Real Sociedad 2-1 Espanyol, Sevilla 1-3 Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid 4-0 Malaga, Deportivo A Coruña 3-1 Valencia, Celta Vigo 0-2 Athletic Club. Across the Pyrenees, the Bundesliga kicked off with Bayern Munich demolishing Stuttgart 5-1, a performance that highlighted the German giants’ squad depth. Notably, new signing Ismael Saibari made an immediate impact off the bench, providing assists for Bayern’s final two goals. Sporting director Christoph Freund praised Saibari’s versatility, noting that he offers a different style from Nicolas Jackson and can complement Harry Kane both centrally and on the wings.
This flexibility adds a new dimension to Bayern’s attack, reinforcing their status as the league’s benchmark. Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a 2-0 win over Hamburg thanks to a goal from Giannis Konstantelias, but the celebration was muted as the Greek winger suffered a cruciate ligament rupture, likely sidelining him for months. The injury is a significant blow to Niko Kovač’s side, which had been enjoying an encouraging start under the new manager.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Elversberg. The modest club, which only entered the Bundesliga in 2022, has already made a statement by toppling the reigning champions in their opening match – a result that will reverberate throughout the season. Bayern Munich will face Elversberg next, providing another early test of the newcomers’ mettle. In other German fixtures, Yuito Suzuki recorded a hat‑trick as Freiburg overcame Werder Bremen, while Augsburg secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Schalke.
Augsburg’s sporting director Benjamin Weber discussed the club’s strategy of over‑achieving despite limited resources, emphasizing smart recruitment and a high‑press system. Bundesliga results round‑up: Bayern Munich 5-1 Stuttgart, Elversberg 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen, Cologne 3-2 Hoffenheim, Mainz 0-0 Paderborn, RB Leipzig 3-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach, Union Berlin 3-3 Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Hamburg, Freiburg 4-1 Werder Bremen, Augsburg 3-0 Schalke. Turning to Italy, Serie A delivered a surprise in Naples where Como defeated Napoli 2-1.
Rasmus Højlund’s goal for Napoli was not enough as Cesc Fàbregas’ well‑organised side, bolstered by the impressive Croatian midfielder Martin Baturina, secured all three points. Baturina opened the scoring and his pressing play forced the decisive error that led to Anastasios Douvikas’ winner.
While Inter, Juventus, Lazio and AC Milan have each won their first four matches, Como’s statement win demonstrates the league’s growing competitiveness. Inter, already top of the table, edged Cagliari 1-0 with a dominant performance that produced 31 shots and an expected‑goals tally of 3.91.
Curtis Jones and John Stones came on as substitutes, highlighting Inter’s depth. AC Milan’s 2-0 triumph over Venezia featured a busy Gonçalo Ramos, whose eight attempts underscored why Milan invested £63m in the Portuguese striker – he may not be clinical yet, but his movement creates countless opportunities.
In France, Paris Saint‑Germain continued their uneven start, needing two injury‑time goals to salvage a 2-2 draw with Lille. Vitinha and Marquinhos rescued a point, but PSG have now gone three games without a win.
Lille’s Dilane Bakwa scored on debut, assisted by Olivier Giroud, while Vitinha’s second‑half strike and subsequent cross set up the equaliser. Meanwhile, Monaco remain the only team with a perfect record after a 2-0 victory over Marseille, thanks to a brace from rising star Paris Brunner.
Paris FC, not PSG, currently sit second in the Ligue 1 table after a 3-0 win over Nice. Ligue 1 results: Lille 2-2 PSG, Strasbourg 2-1 Lens, Auxerre 1-3 Angers, Brest 2-2 Toulouse, Lorient 1-2 Troyes, Lyon 1-1 Le Havre, Paris FC 3-0 Nice, Rennes 3-2 Le Mans, Monaco 2-0 Marseille. In Portugal, Benfica’s early stumble against Académico de Viseu has left manager Marco Silva with a mountain to climb if he hopes to dethrone Francesco Farioli’s dominant Porto side, which remains unbeaten and has not conceded a goal in four league matches.
Over in the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar maintain the sole unbeaten record, eyeing their first title since Steve McClaren’s 2009 campaign, while PSV announced their intent with a 6-1 demolition of Utrecht despite conceding early. Ajax’s new signing Tolu Arokodare continued his strong start, netting his fourth goal in three games during a 4-0 away win at Telstar. New Ajax boss Michel has already secured seven wins and two draws across all competitions, ensuring a place in the Europa Conference League.
Overall, the weekend offered a rich tapestry of results, tactical experiments and individual brilliance. Mourinho’s success in extracting the best from Bellingham signals a promising trajectory for Real Madrid, while the depth displayed by clubs across Europe hints at a season where squad rotation and smart recruitment will be as vital as on‑field talent. The storylines are only beginning, and fans can expect more drama, surprise and high‑quality football as the campaigns unfold.