The Euro Debrief is the latest Sky Sports column where writer Adam Bate distils the most compelling narratives from this week’s continental fixtures. This edition covers a whirlwind of action across the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie, highlighting standout performances from Ballon d'Or hopefuls Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and the teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, while also noting the shifting fortunes of clubs battling for promotion, survival or silverware.
In Germany, the Bundesliga delivered a mixture of surprise results and individual brilliance. Harry Kane, now the captain of Bayern Munich, finally broke the deadlock against the newly promoted side Elversberg with a trademark strike in the 72nd minute. The goal, his 150th for Bayern, echoed the composure he displayed when he scored the decisive winner against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the World Cup. That moment not only secured a 2-1 victory for the Bavarians but also marked Elversberg's first loss of the campaign.
Despite the win, Bayern have yet to reassert their dominance at the top of the league table. Freiburg currently sit in first place after a commanding 5-0 demolition of Borussia Mönchengladbach, a side that responded to the defeat by dismissing head coach Eugen Polanski.
Polanski, visibly frustrated, admitted after the Elversberg loss that "we did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me," a sentiment that grew louder after the heavy loss to Freiburg. The former champions now appear vulnerable to a relegation battle after barely surviving last season.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund kept their perfect start intact, cruising to a 3-0 win over Paderborn thanks to a brace from Felix Nmecha. The Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, making his first Bundesliga start of the season, also contributed, netting his fourth goal of the campaign—already more than he scored in the entirety of last season.
Silva's emergence comes at a crucial time as Dortmund cope with injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings, and his performances suggest he can fill the void. Schalke, back in the top flight, celebrated their first Bundesliga victory since promotion with a 3-1 triumph over Union Berlin, albeit with only 34 percent possession. Werder Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug added another goal to his tally, while Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu made history by saving his sixth consecutive penalty in a 3-1 win at Mainz, underscoring his reputation as a penalty‑stopper.
The full round of Bundesliga results was 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 Spain, Barcelona’s recent form has been a mixed bag.
After a prolific run of five goals in two away fixtures, they settled for a 4-2 victory over Levante, with 17‑year‑old Lamine Yamal scoring twice, including a penalty. His contribution fuels speculation about his role in the Ballon d'Or race, especially as veteran winger Raphinha seems to be ceding creative duties. Karim Adeyemi also impressed, scoring what many considered the best goal of the match, while coach Hansi Flick will be pleased with the attacking options at his disposal despite lingering defensive concerns. In LaLiga, Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a 4-1 demolition of Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé, newly arrived from Paris Saint‑Germain, opened the scoring and added a second, while Jude Bellingham also found the net. The spotlight, however, fell on Yan Diomande, who made his first start for the club. Manager Jose Mourinho praised his tactical learning curve but highlighted his potential, while also lauding 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 £120 million signing of Diomande continues to raise eyebrows, with some questioning whether a more defensive midfielder would have better served Madrid’s needs. Valencia’s woes persisted, culminating in the dismissal of manager Carlos Corberán after a defeat to Sevilla. The club’s owner appears under pressure to avoid a second‑tier season, especially as the long‑awaited Nou Mestalla stadium nears completion. In contrast, Deportivo A Coruña are enjoying a renaissance thanks to veteran striker Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has found the net in each of his first five league appearances, edging toward the all‑time LaLiga record of seven goals.
Serie A offered drama in Italy as AC Milan rallied from a 0-2 deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio, thanks to a double from summer signing Diego Moreira. Milan coach Rúben Amorim defended his bold triple substitution at halftime, which introduced Moreira and paid dividends. Meanwhile, Juventus saw their unbeaten streak snapped when 20‑year‑old Vasilije Adžić, on loan at Sassuolo, scored a 94th‑minute winner against them. Fiorentina’s teenager Franco Mastantuono stole the show with a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory over Venezia, offering a glimmer of hope after the club sacked Fabio Grosso.
In France, Paris Saint‑Germain finally secured their first Ligue 1 win of the season, with Ferran Torres scoring the lone goal at Brest. Coach Luis Enrique paid tribute to the late Brest manager Eric Roy by wearing a "King Eric" shirt.
Lille climbed to the top of the table after Ethan Mbappé—Kylian’s younger brother—found the net, while Rennes continued their unbeaten run by beating Marseille for a third straight time. Auxerre’s on‑loan Southampton striker Cameron Archer impressed, scoring the winner against Nice and earning praise from his former boss Will Still. The Dutch Eredivisie saw Davy Klaassen make history for Ajax, becoming only the second player after Johan Cruyff to score at 24 different stadiums. Ajax’s 5-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard was modest compared to Feyenoord’s seven‑goal haul against PEC Zwolle, but PSV’s 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam was perhaps the most consequential, propelling the defending champions back to the summit after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II.
In Portugal, Sporting suffered a late equaliser at Famalicão, while both Porto and Benfica turned around deficits to claim victories, setting up an intriguing "O Clássico" next weekend. Overall, the week’s matches across Europe highlighted the impact of established stars and emerging talents alike. Kane’s clinical finish, Mbappé’s immediate influence at Madrid, and Yamal’s poise at just 17 illustrate why they remain in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or.
At the same time, clubs are navigating managerial changes, injury crises and the relentless pressure of league competition, ensuring that the storylines will only become richer as the season progresses.