Welcome to the Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate collates the most compelling narratives from this week’s continental fixtures. This edition 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 Bayern Munich faithful finally witnessed a moment of triumph after a surprising stumble against Elversberg. Captain Harry Kane, who recently celebrated his 150th goal for the Bavarian giants, broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a strike that echoed his decisive finish against DR Congo at the World Cup.
Kane’s goal not only secured Bayern’s first defeat of the season but also underscored his reputation as a big‑game scorer. Despite the win, Bayern have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga. Freiburg currently sit at the summit after a commanding 5‑0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side. The loss prompted Gladbach to dismiss coach Eugen Polanski, who lamented the defeat to Elversberg, describing the performance as "inexplicable" and admitting a litany of errors.
The club now faces a precarious future, with many analysts warning they could become relegation candidates after barely surviving the previous campaign. Further down the table, Borussia Dortmund maintained their perfect record, thanks to a dazzling double from Felix Nmecha in a 3‑0 victory over Paderborn. The win was set up by Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who made his first Bundesliga start of the season and already matched his goal tally from the entire previous year with his fourth strike. Silva’s emergence has been crucial for Dortmund, especially after injuries sidelined both of their high‑profile Greek signings.
Schalke, still finding their footing after promotion, celebrated their first top‑flight win by edging Union Berlin 1‑3 while possessing just 34 percent of possession – a testament to their efficiency on the counter‑attack. Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug continued his scoring run, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu etched his name into Bundesliga folklore by saving a sixth consecutive penalty in a 3‑1 triumph over Mainz, a feat that highlights his extraordinary reflexes and composure.
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 inconsistent. After a prolific stretch in which they netted five goals across two away fixtures, they settled for a 4‑2 win over Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scoring twice, including a penalty.
Raphinha appeared to cede some creative responsibilities, prompting speculation about his role in the Ballon d’Or conversation. Karim Adeyemi’s goal against Barcelona was widely praised as the match’s best, reflecting the firepower available to Hansi Flick’s side. Yet defensive frailties remain a concern, and whether stronger opponents will expose Barcelona’s vulnerabilities remains to be seen, especially given their impressive tally of 19 goals in just four matches.
In Madrid, Real clinched a convincing 4‑1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé, on loan, opened the scoring and added a second, while Jude Bellingham also found the net. The spotlight, however, fell on newcomer Yan Diomande, who earned his first start. Manager José Mourinho lauded Diomande’s potential, noting his tactical learning curve, and also praised the impact of substitute Arda Güler, who provided 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 £120 million signing of Diomande continues to raise eyebrows, with some questioning whether a more defensive midfielder might have better served Madrid’s balance. Valencia’s recent woes culminated in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a loss to Sevilla. The club’s precarious position is amplified by the looming prospect of playing in the second division while their long‑awaited 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium finally approaches completion. In the northwestern region of Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña are enjoying a revival, largely thanks to veteran striker Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang.
At 37, he has already scored in each of the first five league games, chasing the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive matches with a goal. LaLiga’s latest results include: 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 rallied from a 0‑2 deficit to draw 2‑2 with Lazio after a bold triple substitution at halftime by manager Rubén Amorim, who introduced Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán.
The changes paid off when summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals. Amorim emphasized the need for consistency across both halves of the game, despite the point earned.
Lazio’s fan base remained vocal, protesting club president Claudio Lotito, while coach Gennaro Gattuso likened the atmosphere to playing during the pandemic. Nevertheless, Lazio remain unbeaten this season.
Juventus saw their unbeaten Serie A run shattered by a late winner from Vasilije Adžić, a 20‑year‑old Montenegrin on loan at Sassuolo, who struck in the 94th minute after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time. The weekend’s most eye‑catching performance came from Fiorentina teenager Franco Mastantuono, who netted a hat‑trick in a 4‑2 victory over Venezia, providing a bright spot after the sacking of coach Fabio Grosso. 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 Ligue 1, Paris Saint‑Germain finally secured their first win of the season, with Ferran Torres delivering the solitary goal at Brest. The match was notable for 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 goal from Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian.
New manager Davide Ancelotti has impressed despite a summer exodus of star players, and Lille remain one of five unbeaten sides. Rennes continued their unbeaten run by handing Marseille a third straight defeat.
Meanwhile, Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw, and Monaco salvaged a point against Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunet, a player many consider a future star. Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton to Auxerre, made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut in a loss and then providing the winner against Nice, earning manager Will Still his first points in charge.
Archer’s intelligent movement and composure have drawn praise from both clubs. Ligue 1’s latest scores: 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 stadiums, a record only surpassed by the legendary Johan Cruyff.
Ajax’s 5‑1 victory over Fortuna Sittard was modest compared to Feyenoord’s seven‑goal showcase at PEC Zwolle, but PSV’s 4‑1 win over Sparta Rotterdam was pivotal. The champions 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.
Both Porto and Benfica rallied from deficits to win, setting the stage for an exciting O Clássico next weekend. Finally, a reminder that the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million – entry is free.