The Euro Debrief is a fresh Sky Sports feature in which reporter Adam Bate gathers the most compelling narratives from this week’s continental fixtures. This edition covers a wide range of action, from the Bundesliga to LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1, and highlights the performances of several players who are being tipped for the Ballon d'Or. In Germany, England captain Harry Kane finally broke the deadlock for Bayern Munich against the surprise package Elversberg.
Kane, who celebrated his 150th Bayern goal, struck in the 72nd minute with a finish that echoed his World Cup winner against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The goal not only secured Bayern’s first defeat of the season but also underlined Kane’s knack for delivering when it matters most. Bayern, however, have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga.
That honour currently belongs to Freiburg, who thrashed Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-0. The loss prompted Mönchengladbach to dismiss coach Eugen Polanski, who lamented after the Elversberg defeat, "We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me." His remarks sounded even more stark in the wake of Freiburg’s dominant display.
Having survived relegation only last season, Mönchengladbach now appear to be heading for another fight at the bottom of the table. Further north, Borussia Dortmund kept their perfect start alive with a 3-0 victory over Paderborn.
Felix Nmecha netted a brace, while newcomer Fabio Silva, making his first Bundesliga start, added his fourth league goal of the campaign – already surpassing his total from the previous season. Silva’s emergence has helped Dortmund offset injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings, showing that the squad has depth beyond its star names. Rival Schalke celebrated their first win since returning to the top flight, edging Union Berlin 1-3 while possessing only 34% of the ball, a testament to their efficiency on the counter‑attack.
Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Niclas Fullkrug continued his scoring run, and Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable record by saving a sixth consecutive penalty in a 3-1 win at Mainz. Such feats underline the unpredictable nature of the German league this season. The full slate of Bundesliga results included Union Berlin 1-3 Schalke, Augsburg 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Paderborn, Freiburg 5-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hoffenheim 2-1 Stuttgart, Mainz 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne 1-1 Werder Bremen, RB Leipzig 5-0 Hamburg and Elversberg 1-2 Bayern. Turning to Spain, Barcelona’s attack showed signs of fatigue.
After scoring five goals across their previous two away games, they managed only four against Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal contributing a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha appeared to cede creative duties, prompting speculation about his role in Yamal’s Ballon d'Or campaign.
Karim Adeyemi produced what many considered the best goal of the match, adding to the firepower available to coach Hansi Flick. Yet defensive frailties remain a concern for the Catalans, who have already amassed 19 goals in four games – a tally that may not be enough if stronger opponents tighten up. In LaLiga, Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a convincing 4-1 triumph over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé, on loan, opened and closed the scoring, while Jude Bellingham also found the net. New signing Yan Diomande earned his first start, prompting manager Jose Mourinho to praise his potential while noting the need for tactical development.
Mourinho also lauded substitute Arda Güler, who supplied the assist for Mbappé’s second goal and created five chances after entering in the 72nd minute – the most of any player on the pitch. The £120m acquisition of Diomande raises eyebrows, as Madrid already boast a wealth of attacking talent.
Some observers wonder whether a more defensive midfielder would have been a wiser investment, especially as rivals Barcelona continue to struggle defensively. Valencia endured a harsh defeat to Sevilla, leading to the dismissal of coach Carlos Corberán. The club, still awaiting the completion of the 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium, fears a drop to the second division, prompting swift action from the board.
In the northwestern region of Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña are enjoying a resurgence, largely thanks to veteran striker Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang. At 37, he has already scored in each of the first five league matches, inching toward the all‑time LaLiga record of seven goals in a season. Key LaLiga results were Sevilla 1-0 Valencia, Racing Santander 2-1 Alavés, Osasuna 0-2 Espanyol, Athletic Club 1-1 Elche, Real Madrid 4-1 Rayo Vallecano, Celta Vigo 1-1 Malaga, Levante 2-4 Barcelona, Getafe 1-1 Deportivo A Coruña and Real Sociedad 0-3 Atletico Madrid.
In Serie A, AC Milan rallied from a 0-2 halftime deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio after manager Ruben Amorim made three bold substitutions, bringing on Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán. Summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals, underscoring his growing importance to the side. Despite a largely hostile crowd at the Stadio Olimpico, Milan secured a point, while Lazio fans continued protests against club president Claudio Lotito. Juventus saw their unbeaten streak snapped when Sassuolo’s 20‑year‑old Montenegrin forward Vasilije Adzić netted a 94th‑minute winner after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina teenager Franco Mastantuono delivered a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory over Venezia, providing a bright spot after the sacking of coach Fabio Grosso. Serie A results included Venezia 2-4 Fiorentina, Genoa 1-1 Frosinone, Lazio 2-2 AC Milan, Atalanta 1-2 Cagliari, Lecce 3-2 Monza, Napoli 1-0 Bologna, Sassuolo 3-2 Juventus. In France, Paris Saint‑Germain finally recorded their first Ligue 1 win of the campaign, with Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal at Brest.
Manager Luis Enrique paid tribute to the late Brest coach Eric Roy by wearing a "King Eric" shirt. Lille surged to the top of the table thanks to a goal from Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian. New coach Davide Ancelotti has overseen a solid start despite losing several star players in the summer.
Lille remain unbeaten alongside Rennes, who defeated Marseille for a third consecutive time. Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw, while Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner, a rising talent.
On loan from Southampton, Cameron Archer scored the winner for Auxerre against Nice, earning manager Will Still his first points with the club. Archer’s intelligent movement and composure have drawn praise from both his parent club and his temporary team.
Ligue 1 results were Rennes 1-0 Marseille, Strasbourg 1-1 Monaco, Auxerre 1-0 Nice, Le Havre 0-0 Angers, Lorient 2-2 Toulouse, Paris FC 0-0 Lyon, Lille 2-0 Troyes, Le Mans 2-2 Lens and Brest 0-1 PSG. In the Eredivisie, former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen made history for Ajax by scoring at 24 different venues, a feat matched only by legend Johan Cruyff.
Ajax beat Fortuna Sittard 5-1, while Feyenoord produced a seven‑goal showcase at PEC Zwolle. PSV secured a 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam, reclaiming the league lead after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. In Portugal, Sporting suffered a late equaliser at Famalicão despite the opposition playing with ten men. Both Porto and Benfica rallied from deficits to win their matches, setting up an enticing "O Clássico" clash for the weekend.
Overall, the week delivered a blend of surprise upsets, individual brilliance and managerial drama across Europe, with several Ballon d'Or contenders continuing to impress on the club stage.