Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate distils the most compelling narratives from the latest continental fixtures. This week’s roundup covers a whirlwind of action across Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Portugal, with a particular focus on how Jose Mourinho is shaping the new Real Madrid project. Real Madrid have now secured three straight victories under Mourinho, highlighted by a clinical 4-0 demolition of Malaga at the Bernabeu.
The opposition was no heavyweight, but the performance offered clear evidence that the Portuguese manager is beginning to unlock the full potential of an increasingly deep and talented squad. Trent Alexander‑Arnold supplied a trademark cross that turned into an assist, while Kylian Mbappé, fresh from a mid‑week hat‑trick against Real Sociedad, added another goal to his tally.
Yet the standout of the afternoon was Jude Bellingham, who operated in the No.10 position and dictated the tempo with a maturity beyond his years. Bellingham’s journey at Madrid has been a lesson in positional flexibility. Under Carlo Ancelotti he was shuffled between deeper midfield roles, wide positions and even a forward slot, reflecting his all‑round skill set.
Mourinho, however, has been explicit about his vision: Bellingham should partner directly with Mbappé, acting as the creative conduit that links midfield to attack. The results speak for themselves – the English midfielder’s movement, vision and defensive work rate have given the team a new balance. The rapport between manager and player may not be entirely surprising.
In 2024 Bellingham humorously admitted that Mourinho was his mother’s crush, a comment that hinted at a personal connection. More seriously, both men share an unrelenting drive and a demand for excellence, which has translated into a productive working relationship on the training ground and on the pitch.
The second goal for Madrid came from Arda Güler, who arrived off the bench to make it 3-0. Late on, Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva also featured, while the bench boasted the likes of Ibrahima Kônate, Denzel Dumfries and the previous week’s hero Carlos Espi.
The depth of the squad is now unmistakable, a factor that will be crucial as the season progresses and the fixture list inevitably toughens. Mourinho’s early success has drawn attention to the relative calm in the dressing room. Despite lingering rumors about a possible clash with Vinícius Júnior, there is currently no public sign of tension, and the key players appear to be performing with confidence.
As Marca noted, Madrid have rarely stumbled in such straightforward fixtures in recent years, and Mourinho seems to be maintaining that trend. Beyond the capital, other Spanish stories added spice to the week.
Atletico Madrid snapped Sevilla’s surprising winning streak, while Troy Parrott showed promise for Betis despite a heavy defeat to Levante. Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, now 37, continued his resurgence with a third consecutive goal for Deportivo. Racing Santander finally celebrated their first LaLiga win after two defeats, edging Elche 3-2 with a brand of football that stands out for its boldness in a league often dominated by possession‑heavy sides. In Germany, Bayern Munich opened the Bundesliga campaign with a dominant 5-1 victory over Stuttgart.
Surprisingly, Harry Kane did not find the net, but newcomer Ismael Saibari made a strong impression by providing assists for the final two goals after replacing fellow recent signing Nathaniel Brown. Sporting director Christoph Freund praised Saibari’s versatility, noting that he offers a different style from Nicolas Jackson and can complement Kane both centrally and on the wings. Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win over Hamburg was marred by a serious injury to Greek winger Giannis Konstantelias, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture shortly after scoring.
The loss is a blow to Niko Kovač’s side, which had been enjoying an encouraging start under the new coach. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen suffered an unexpected 3-2 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Elversberg, a club that only entered the Bundesliga three years ago after climbing from regional football in 2022.
Their victory over the defending champions underscores the unpredictable nature of the league. Further Bundesliga highlights included Yuito Suzuki’s hat‑trick for Freiburg against Werder Bremen and Augsburg’s comfortable 3-0 win over Schalke. Augsburg’s sporting director Benjamin Weber discussed the club’s strategy of over‑achieving despite limited resources, emphasizing disciplined recruitment and a strong team ethic.
In Serie A, Napoli’s Rasmus Højlund scored a fine goal in a 2-1 loss to Como, where Cesc Fàbregas’s side impressed with a solid collective display. Martin Baturina shone for Como, opening the scoring and providing the pressing intensity that led to the winning goal from Anastasios Douvikas. Inter Milan, already top of the table, secured a narrow 1-0 win over Cagliari, firing 31 shots and generating an expected‑goals tally of 3.91, highlighting their dominance despite the low scoreline.
AC Milan’s 2-0 victory over Venezia featured Gonçalo Ramos, whose eight attempts demonstrated why the club invested £63m in the Portuguese striker, even if his finishing was not clinical. 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, on loan from Nottingham Forest, struck on his debut, assisted by Olivier Giroud.
Meanwhile, Monaco maintained a perfect record with a 2-0 win over Marseille, thanks to a brace from youngster Paris Brunner. Paris FC, not PSG, currently sits second in the Ligue 1 table after a 3-0 triumph over Nice. Portugal’s title race is already shaping up as a battle between Benfica and Porto.
Benfica, after dropping points at home to Académico de Viseu, will need to respond to Porto’s flawless start under Francesco Farioli, who has yet to concede a goal. In the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar remains the only unbeaten side, while PSV announced a 6-1 demolition of Utrecht, and Ajax’s new forward Tolu Arokodare continued his hot start with a fourth goal in three games. Overall, the week offered a snapshot of early‑season form across Europe, with Mourinho’s Real Madrid providing a compelling case study of how a manager can extract peak performances from a star‑laden roster when the right tactical framework is applied. The season is still young, but the trends emerging now will likely shape the narratives for months to come.