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 touches on several leagues, highlights standout performances and notes the shifting fortunes of clubs across Europe.
In the Bundesliga, England captain Harry Kane finally broke the deadlock against Elversberg, netting his 150th goal for Bayern Munich in the 72nd minute. The strike bore a striking resemblance to his World Cup winner against DR Congo, underscoring Kane's knack for decisive moments. That victory marked Bayern's first loss of the season, ending their unbeaten start.
Despite the win, Bayern have yet to reclaim the top spot in the league table. Freiburg currently sit at the summit after a dominant 5-0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side, who promptly dismissed coach Eugen Polanski.
Polanski, after a defeat to Elversberg, admitted that "we did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me." His frustration deepened following the heavy loss to Freiburg, and Gladbach now appear vulnerable to a relegation battle after narrowly escaping the drop last season. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund maintained their perfect record, with Felix Nmecha delivering a brace that capped a 3-0 triumph over Paderborn. The win was set up by Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who earned his first Bundesliga start of the campaign and already matched his total goal tally from the previous season with four strikes. Silva’s emergence comes at a crucial time as Dortmund cope with injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings, and his contributions suggest he can fill the void.
Schalke, Dortmund’s traditional rivals, celebrated their first Bundesliga victory since returning to the top flight, edging Union Berlin 1-3 while possessing merely 34% of the ball – a testament to their efficiency in front of goal. Niclas Fullkrug also continued his scoring run for Werder Bremen. A special mention goes to Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who extended his remarkable penalty‑save streak to six consecutive attempts in a 3-1 win at Mainz.
While Nadiem Amiri had previously scored ten penalties, Atubolu’s composure under pressure sets him apart. Bundesliga results for the round were 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 dipped slightly. After scoring five goals across two away fixtures, they were held to a 4-2 victory over Levante, with teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal netting a brace, one from the spot.
Raphinha seemed to hand over creative duties, perhaps to bolster his Ballon d'Or credentials. Karim Adeyemi produced what many considered the best goal of the match, showcasing the attacking firepower at manager Hansi Flick’s disposal.
However, defensive frailties remain a concern, and stronger opponents may exploit Barcelona’s leaky back line despite their impressive 19‑goal haul in four games. In other LaLiga action, Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a convincing 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé started and finished the scoring, while Jude Bellingham also found the net. New signing Yan Diomande earned his first start, prompting manager José Mourinho to praise his potential, noting that "he has a lot to learn tactically, but possesses amazing potential." Mourinho was equally enthusiastic about Diomande’s substitute, Arda Güler, who provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal and created five chances after entering in the 72nd minute – the highest chance creation tally of any player on the pitch. The £120 million acquisition of Güler raises questions about squad balance, as Mourinho might have preferred a more defensive midfielder to complement Rodri’s efforts in containing Barcelona’s attack.
Rodri’s decision to join Barcelona instead of Madrid could prove decisive in the title race. Valencia’s woes continued, culminating in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a defeat to Sevilla.
The club’s poor start has drawn criticism from rivals, including Rodri, who was overheard commenting on Valencia’s ineptitude. The urgency is amplified by the impending inauguration of the 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium, which the club hopes will herald a new era. In Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a renaissance thanks to veteran striker Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five matches of the season, edging toward the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive scoring games. LaLiga results: 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 Serie A, AC Milan clawed back from a 0-2 halftime deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio, thanks to a bold triple substitution by manager Ruben Amorim. The changes brought Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán onto the field, and summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals after coming on.
Amorim defended his tactical gamble, stating, "We managed to take a point, but we need to improve; you cannot rely on one half of the match." The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was unusual, with many Lazio supporters chanting for Milan as a protest against club president Claudio Lotito. Despite the tension, Lazio remain unbeaten this season. Juventus saw their unbeaten streak snapped when Vasilije Adžić, a 20‑year‑old Montenegrin on loan at Sassuolo, scored a 94th‑minute winner against them after Juve had equalised in stoppage time. A highlight from the weekend came from Fiorentina teenager Franco Mastantuono, who recorded a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory over Venezia, providing a bright spot amid the club’s recent coaching change.
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 scoring the solitary goal at Brest. The match was marked by manager Luis Enrique wearing a "King Eric" shirt in tribute to former Brest coach Eric Roy, who passed away in June. Lille surged to the top of the table after Ethan Mbappé, Kylian’s younger brother, found the net.
New manager Davide Ancelotti has impressed despite losing several star players in the summer, and Lille are now one of five unbeaten sides. Rennes continued their solid run by handing Marseille a third straight defeat.
Meanwhile, Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw, and Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a stunning goal from Paris Brunner, a rising talent. Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton at Auxerre, made an immediate impact by scoring the winner against Nice, earning manager Will Still his first points. Archer’s movement and finish were exemplary, highlighting why his parent club are keen to see him develop 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 defeated Fortuna Sittard 5-1, while Feyenoord’s seven‑goal display at PEC Zwolle and PSV’s 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam kept the title race tight.
PSV reclaimed the league lead after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. Portugal’s Primeira Liga saw Sporting concede a late equaliser at Famalicão despite the visitors being reduced to ten men, while both Porto and Benfica rallied from deficits to win, setting up an exciting "O Clássico" next weekend.
These stories illustrate the dynamic nature of European football this season, where emerging talents, tactical tweaks and unexpected turnarounds keep fans enthralled across every major league.