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 Europe, from the Bundesliga to LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and beyond, highlighting standout performances from Ballon d'Or hopefuls and emerging talents alike. In Germany, the season’s first surprise arrived when England captain Harry Kane finally broke Bayern Munich's unbeaten run against the minnows of Elversberg. Kane, who celebrated his 150th goal for the Bavarian giants in the 72nd minute, delivered a clinical finish reminiscent of his World Cup winner against DR Congo.
The goal proved decisive as Bayern suffered their first defeat of the campaign, ending the newcomers' brief unbeaten streak. While Bayern remain a powerhouse, they have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga. That honour currently belongs to Freiburg, who thrashed a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-0.
The defeat prompted Gladbach to dismiss head coach Eugen Polanski, who lamented the loss, saying, "We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me." Polanski’s frustration was amplified after his side fell to Elversberg the previous weekend, and the situation looks even bleaker after the heavy loss to Freiburg. Having narrowly escaped relegation last season, Gladbach now appear vulnerable to a drop.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund maintained their perfect start to the league. Felix Nmecha netted a brace, showcasing his finishing prowess in a 3-0 victory over Paderborn.
The win was set up by Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who earned his first Bundesliga start of the season and already recorded his fourth goal, surpassing his total from the entire previous campaign. Silva’s emergence is timely, as Dortmund have had to compensate for injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings. Schalke, Dortmund’s fierce rivals, finally secured their first Bundesliga win since returning to the top flight, edging Union Berlin 1-3 despite possessing only 34% of possession.
Niclas Fullkrug added another goal for Werder Bremen, while Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable record by saving a sixth consecutive penalty in a 3-1 triumph at Mainz. Atubolu’s feat underscores his reputation as a penalty specialist, a rarity in modern football. The full slate of Bundesliga results reads as follows: 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, Elversberg 1-2 Bayern Munich. Turning to LaLiga, Barcelona’s recent form has been underwhelming.
After scoring five goals across their last two away fixtures, they were held to a 4-2 win over Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal netting a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha appeared to relinquish his creative duties, perhaps to bolster Yamal’s Ballon d'Or aspirations.
Karim Adeyemi delivered the match’s most spectacular goal, building on his impressive start to the season. Despite the attacking firepower at Hansi Flick’s disposal, defensive frailties remain a concern, and stronger opponents may soon test Barcelona’s resolve.
With 19 goals in four matches, the Catalans are prolific, but consistency will be key. In the capital, Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a dominant 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé, newly signed, opened and closed the scoring, while Jude Bellingham added a goal. The spotlight also fell on Yan Diomande, who earned his first start; Mourinho praised his potential but noted his tactical learning curve.
Substitute Arda Güler, who entered in the 72nd minute, provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal and created five chances – the most of any player on the pitch – highlighting the depth of Madrid’s attacking options. Yet Mourinho’s comments hinted at a desire for a more balanced midfield, perhaps favouring a holding midfielder over the expensive Diomande. Valencia’s woes continued as they fell 1-0 to Sevilla, prompting the dismissal of coach Carlos Corberán. The decision reflects a disastrous start, and club owner concerns are amplified by the looming inauguration of the 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium, which they hope will usher in a new era.
In Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a revival led by veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has found the net in each of the first five league games, chasing the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive scoring appearances. LaLiga results for the round: 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 Málaga, Levante 2-4 Barcelona, Getafe 1-1 Deportivo A Coruña, Real Sociedad 0-3 Atlético Madrid. In Italy, AC Milan clawed back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio, thanks to a bold triple substitution by manager Rúben Amorim.
The changes brought Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán onto the field, and summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals. Amorim stressed the need for consistency across the full 90 minutes, despite the point earned. Lazio’s supporters, disgruntled with club president Claudio Lotito, filled more than half of the Stadio Olimpico, turning the atmosphere into a quasi‑protest. Nonetheless, the club remains unbeaten this season.
Juventus saw their unbeaten Serie A run snapped when Sassuolo’s 20‑year‑old Montenegrin loanee Vasilije Adžić scored a 94th‑minute winner after Juve had equalised in stoppage time. The weekend’s Italian spotlight, however, belonged to Fiorentina teenager Franco Mastantuono, who recorded a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory at Venezia, providing a bright spark after coach Fabio Grosso’s dismissal. Serie A results: 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 claimed their first Ligue 1 win, with Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal at Brest. The match featured manager Luis Enrique wearing a "King Eric" shirt in tribute to the late Brest coach Eric Roy.
Lille surged to the top of the table thanks to a strike from Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian. New manager Davide Ancelotti has started strongly despite a summer exodus of star players, keeping Lille among the five unbeaten sides. Rennes also remained unbeaten, handing Marseille a third straight defeat. Elsewhere, Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw, while Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular goal from Paris Brunner, a rising talent.
Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton to Auxerre, made an immediate impact. After scoring on his debut in a loss, he netted the winner against Nice, earning his former boss Will Still his first points in charge. Archer’s intelligent movement and finishing underscore why Southampton are eager to see him succeed in France.
Ligue 1 results: 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, Brest 0-1 PSG. In the Eredivisie, Davy Klaassen made history for Ajax by scoring at 24 different venues, a feat only surpassed by Johan Cruyff. Ajax beat Fortuna Sittard 5-1, while Feyenoord’s seven‑goal demolition of PEC Zwolle and PSV’s 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam were highlights.
PSV reclaimed the league lead after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. In Portugal, Sporting dropped points after conceding a stoppage‑time goal at Famalicão, despite the visitors playing with ten men. Porto and Benfica both staged comebacks to win, setting up an intriguing "O Clássico" next weekend. Overall, the week delivered a rich tapestry of triumphs, setbacks, and individual brilliance, with Ballon d'Or hopefuls Kane, Mbappé and Yamal all leaving their mark on the continent’s biggest stages.