Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate distills the most compelling narratives from the latest continental fixtures. This week’s roundup covers a wide swath of action, from the Spanish capital to the German Bundesliga and beyond. Real Madrid have now secured three wins from three under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho, highlighted by a clinical 4-0 demolition of Malaga at the Bernabeu. While the opposition has not yet presented a daunting challenge, the performance offers early evidence that Mourinho has begun to unlock the full potential of an increasingly deep and talented Madrid roster.
The match featured a familiar flourish from Trent Alexander‑Arnold, who delivered a trademark assist, and Kylian Mbappé added another goal to his already impressive mid‑week hat‑trick against Real Sociedad. Yet it was Jude Bellingham who stole the spotlight, operating from the No.10 position and dictating the tempo against Malaga. Bellingham’s role at Madrid has been fluid throughout his tenure. Under Carlo Ancelotti, his versatility was exploited by deploying him in deeper midfield slots, out wide, or even as a forward.
Mourinho, however, has been explicit about his vision: Bellingham should play just behind Mbappé, linking midfield and attack. The experiment appears to be paying dividends, with the English midfielder displaying a blend of creativity, defensive work‑rate, and goal‑scoring instinct.
The rapport between Bellingham and Mourinho may not be surprising. In 2024 the player humorously disclosed that Mourinho was his mother’s crush, a light‑hearted anecdote that underscored a deeper connection.
Both men share an intense competitive drive and a demand for excellence from everyone around them, a cultural fit that is beginning to manifest on the pitch. Against Malaga, the fourth goal came from the young Turkish talent Arda Güler, who was introduced as a substitute. Other fresh legs included Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva, while the bench also featured seasoned campaigners such as Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and the previous week’s hero Carlos Espi.
The sheer depth of Madrid’s squad is now evident, and Mourinho appears comfortable rotating his options without sacrificing quality. The column also touches on broader league developments. In LaLiga, Atletico Madrid snapped Sevilla’s surprising winning streak, while Troy Parrott impressed for Betis despite their eventual defeat to Levante. Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, at 37, continued his scoring run for Deportivo with a third consecutive goal.
Racing Santander finally tasted victory after two defeats, edging Elche 3‑2 with a style of play that defies conventional Spanish tactics. Their win marked a return to the top flight after a recent spell in the third tier, showcasing a resilient mentality that could inspire other newly promoted sides. The LaLiga results snapshot reads: Racing Santander 3‑2 Elche, Alaves 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 Coruna 3‑1 Valencia, Celta Vigo 0‑2 Athletic Club.
Across the border in Germany, Bayern Munich opened their Bundesliga campaign with a dominant 5‑1 victory over Stuttgart. Notably, Harry Kane did not find the net, but new signing Ismael Saibari made an immediate impact, coming off the bench to replace fellow newcomer Nathaniel Brown and providing assists for Bayern’s final two goals. Sporting director Christoph Freund praised Saibari’s versatility, noting that he offers a different style compared to Nicolas Jackson and can complement Kane both centrally and on the wings.
Bayern’s depth was on full display, reinforcing the notion that the squad has become even more formidable under coach Vincent Kompany. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund secured a 2‑0 win over Hamburg thanks to a goal from Giannis Konstantelias in his first start, only for the Greek winger to suffer a cruciate ligament injury that will sideline him for an extended period. The loss is a blow to Niko Kovac’s side, which had begun the season with an exciting brand of football.
Bayer Leverkusen experienced a sobering defeat, falling 3‑2 to newly promoted Elversberg. The surprise visitors had been competing in regional leagues as recently as 2022, yet three successive promotions have thrust them into the Bundesliga, and they opened their debut season by toppling the reigning champions.
Their next opponent will be Bayern Munich, promising a high‑stakes encounter. Other Bundesliga highlights included Yuito Suzuki’s hat‑trick for Freiburg against Werder Bremen, and Augsburg’s 3‑0 triumph over Schalke. Augsburg’s sporting director Benjamin Weber discussed the club’s strategy for sustaining over‑achievement as they head into their 16th consecutive top‑flight season.
In Serie A, Como delivered a statement win by beating Napoli 2‑1, with Rasmus Højlund’s goal for the Neapolitans proving insufficient. Cesc Fábregas’s side impressed, particularly through the performances of Croatian midfielder Martin Baturina, who opened the scoring and helped create the winner for Anastasios Douvikas.
The early leaders of the league—Inter, Juventus, Lazio and AC Milan—each recorded victories in their first four matches, with Inter already topping the table after a 1‑0 win at Cagliari that featured 31 shots and an expected‑goals tally of 3.91. AC Milan’s 2‑0 victory over Venezia highlighted the impact of their £63 million signing Gonçalo Ramos.
Ramos netted the opening goal and was involved in eight attempts, underscoring his role as a constant threat despite missing several clear‑cut chances. In Ligue 1, Paris Saint‑Germain’s shaky start continued as they salvaged a 2‑2 draw with Lille thanks to late goals from Vitinha and Marquinhos. Lille’s Dilane Bakwa scored on debut, assisted by Olivier Giroud, while Vitinha’s strike and subsequent cross set up the equaliser. PSG now sit without a win in three games, while Monaco remains the only unbeaten side after a 2‑0 win over Marseille, with teenager Paris Brunner scoring both goals.
Paris FC, not PSG, currently holds the highest league position among Parisian clubs, having thrashed Nice 3‑0 to climb to second place. In Portugal, Benfica’s opening loss to Academico de Viseu has left manager Marco Silva with a task to reclaim the title from Francesco Farioli’s dominant Porto side, which has won its first four matches without conceding.
In the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar maintains a perfect record, chasing a first championship since Steve McClaren’s 2009 tenure, while PSV announced a 6‑1 demolition of Utrecht despite conceding early. Ajax’s new striker Tolu Arokodare continued his strong start with a fourth goal in three games during a 4‑0 away win at Telstar, and new coach Michel has already secured seven wins and two draws across all competitions, ensuring a Conference League berth. Overall, the early weeks of the European season have produced a blend of dominant performances, surprising upsets, and emerging narratives.
Mourinho’s evolving partnership with Bellingham at Real Madrid, Bayern’s depth, and the rapid rise of clubs like Elversberg and Racing Santander illustrate the dynamic nature of this campaign. As the weeks progress, fans can expect further tactical battles, player breakthroughs, and the inevitable drama that makes European football so compelling.