The Euro Debrief is a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate pulls together the most compelling narratives from the latest continental fixtures. This week’s roundup begins with Real Madrid, who under Jose Mourinho have now secured three victories from three matches, highlighted by a 4-0 demolition of Malaga at the Bernabeu.
While the early schedule has not been overly demanding, subtle indicators suggest that Mourinho has discovered a formula to harness the depth and talent of an increasingly stacked Madrid roster. The match featured a familiar flash from Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose pinpoint crossing produced a trademark assist. Kylian Mbappe, riding the momentum of a mid‑week hat‑trick against Real Sociedad, added another goal to his tally, reinforcing his reputation as a relentless finisher. Yet the standout performer on the pitch was Jude Bellingham, who excelled in the central No 10 role against Malaga.
Bellingham’s journey at Madrid has been one of positional experimentation. Under Carlo Ancelotti, his versatile skill set saw him deployed deeper in midfield, out wide on the flanks, and even as a forward. Mourinho, however, has been explicit about his vision: Bellingham should operate just behind Mbappe, linking play and creating space. The partnership appears to be flourishing, with Bellingham’s intelligence and work rate complementing Mbappe’s speed and clinical edge.
The chemistry between player and manager may not be surprising. In 2024, Bellingham humorously disclosed that Mourinho was his mother’s crush, a light‑hearted anecdote that hinted at a deeper connection.
More seriously, both men share an intense drive and an uncompromising demand for excellence from everyone around them. This shared mentality is evident in the way Madrid have performed – disciplined, focused, and eager to execute Mourinho’s tactical blueprint. The second half saw Arda Güler introduced to the attack, and he capped the rout with the fourth goal. Substitutes Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva also entered the fray, joining a bench that already featured Ibrahima Kónáté, Denzel Dumfries and last week’s hero Carlos Espi.
The sheer depth of the squad is now on display, offering Mourinho a plethora of options to rotate without compromising quality. Looking ahead, the fixtures will inevitably become tougher.
As noted in Marca, Madrid have historically stumbled in games where they underestimated opponents. So far, Mourinho has avoided those pitfalls, maintaining harmony within the squad and, crucially, keeping any potential friction with Vinícius Júnior at bay.
The key players appear content, and the team’s rhythm remains intact. Beyond the capital, other Spanish stories unfolded. Atletico Madrid snapped Sevilla’s surprising winning streak, while Troy Parrott impressed for Betis before they were overwhelmed by Levante.
Veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, at 37, continued his scoring run with a third consecutive goal for Deportivo. Racing Santander finally celebrated their first LaLiga victory after two defeats, edging Elche 3‑2 with a brand of football that stands out in Spain’s top tier.
Their resurgence, after a recent spell in the third division, underscores the unpredictable nature of the league. The LaLiga scoreboard for the round reads: 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.
In Germany, Bayern Munich opened their Bundesliga campaign with a commanding 5‑1 victory over Stuttgart, showcasing the depth that has become a hallmark of the club. Remarkably, Harry Kane did not find the net; instead, new signing Ismael Saibari made his mark by assisting the final two goals after coming off the bench for Nathaniel Brown. Sporting director Christoph Freund praised Saibari’s versatility, noting that he offers a different style to Nicolas Jackson and can operate both alongside Kane and on the wings. Borussia Dortmund secured a 2‑0 win over Hamburg, with Giannis Konstantelias scoring on his first start.
Unfortunately, his celebration was cut short by a cruciate ligament injury, sidelining the promising Greek winger for an extended period. The loss is a blow to Niko Kovač’s side, which had hoped to build momentum around Konstantelias’s dynamism. Bayer Leverkusen suffered a 3‑2 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Elversberg, a club that only entered regional football as recently as 2022.
Their rapid ascent, achieving three promotions in quick succession, culminated in a stunning upset against the reigning champions, setting up a tantalising clash with Bayern Munich in the near future. Other Bundesliga highlights included Yuito Suzuki’s hat‑trick as Freiburg thrashed Werder Bremen, and Augsburg’s 3‑0 demolition of Schalke, with sporting director Benjamin Weber discussing the club’s strategy to sustain over‑achievement.
The Bundesliga results for the weekend were: 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. In Serie A, Como secured a 2‑1 win over Napoli, with Rasmus Højlund scoring for the visitors but Cesc Fabregas’s side prevailing thanks to the brilliance of Croatian midfielder Martin Baturina, who opened the scoring and helped engineer the decisive goal for Anastasios Douvikas.
Inter, Juventus, Lazio and AC Milan all maintained perfect records after four matches, while Inter’s 1‑0 victory over Cagliari highlighted their dominance, boasting 31 shots and an expected‑goals tally of 3.91. AC Milan’s 2‑0 triumph over Venezia showcased Gonçalo Ramos, whose eight attempts underscored the club’s faith in the £63 million signing, even as PSG allowed him to leave. Despite a low conversion rate, Ramos’s presence creates constant threats for opponents.
In France, Paris Saint‑Germain’s shaky start continued with a 2‑2 draw at Lille, rescued by late goals from Vitinha and Marquinhos. Lille’s Dilane Bakwa opened the scoring on debut, assisted by Olivier Giroud, while PSG’s resilience kept them unbeaten, albeit without a win in three games. Monaco, meanwhile, remains the only team with a flawless record after a 2‑0 victory over Marseille, thanks to a brace from teenage talent Paris Brunner. Paris FC, not PSG, currently occupies the highest position for a Parisian club, having beaten Nice 3‑0.
The Ligue 1 round concluded with: Lille 2‑2 Paris Saint‑Germain, 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 opening loss to Académico de Viseu places immediate pressure on manager Marco Silva, who must challenge Porto’s unbeaten run under Francesco Farioli.
Porto have secured four wins from four, yet to concede a goal. In the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar remains the sole unbeaten side, eyeing their first title since Steve McClaren’s tenure in 2009. PSV, the defending champions, announced intent with a 6‑1 demolition of Utrecht, while Ajax’s new striker Tolu Arokodare added his fourth goal in three games during a 4‑0 away win at Telstar. New Ajax boss Michel has already delivered seven wins and two draws across competitions, ensuring a Conference League spot at minimum.
Overall, the week’s football across Europe highlighted Mourinho’s growing influence at Real Madrid, the depth of Bayern’s squad, and the unpredictable nature of newly promoted teams making immediate impacts. The season is still in its infancy, but the narratives are already rich, promising an exhilarating campaign ahead.