Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate gathers the most compelling narratives from the latest continental fixtures. This week’s roundup spans the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie, highlighting standout performances, surprising results and emerging storylines. In Germany, the Bayern Munich faithful finally witnessed a classic Harry Kane finish that ended Elversberg's brief unbeaten spell.
The England captain, now a Bayern player, struck in the 72nd minute to notch his 150th goal for the Bavarian giants – a strike that echoed the decisive header he scored against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the World Cup. The goal proved decisive as the newcomers suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Despite the win, Bayern have yet to reclaim their customary perch atop the Bundesliga. Freiburg currently sit in first place after a commanding 5-0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side, a result that prompted the club to dismiss head coach Eugen Polanski. Polanski lamented his team’s performance after the loss to Elversberg, saying, "We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me." His remarks sounded even harsher when compared with Freiburg’s flawless display. Mönchengladbach, still reeling from last season’s narrow escape from relegation, now appear vulnerable to a drop.
Further down the table, Borussia Dortmund continued their perfect start to the season. Felix Nmecha netted a brace, delivering two spectacular goals in a 3-0 victory over Paderborn. The win was set up by Portuguese youngster Fabio Silva, who earned his first Bundesliga start of the season and added his fourth goal of the campaign – already surpassing his total from the previous year. Silva’s emergence is particularly welcome given injuries to Dortmund’s high‑profile Greek signings, and his contributions suggest he can fill the void.
Rival club Schalke secured their first Bundesliga win since returning to the top flight, edging Union Berlin 1-3 while holding just 34% possession, a testament to their defensive resilience. Niclas Füllkrug also added another goal for Werder Bremen, maintaining his steady scoring run.
A highlight of the round was Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who extended his remarkable penalty‑save streak to six consecutive spot‑kicks in a 3-1 triumph at Mainz. While Nadiem Amiri had previously scored ten penalties in a row, Atubolu’s record underscores his unique composure under pressure. The full slate 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 mixed.
After netting five goals across their last two away fixtures, they settled for four in a 4-2 home win over Levante, with teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal scoring twice – one from the spot. Raphinha appeared to cede some creative responsibilities, perhaps to bolster his Ballon d'Or campaign.
Karim Adeyemi’s goal was widely praised as the match’s best, showcasing the firepower available to coach Hansi Flick, though defensive lapses remain a concern. With 19 goals in four games, Barcelona’s attack is prolific, but whether it can translate into consistency against stronger opposition remains to be seen. In LaLiga, Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a convincing 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé, newly signed, opened the scoring and added a second, while Jude Bellingham also found the net.
The spotlight also fell on debutant Yan Diomande, whose first start prompted praise from manager José Mourinho: "He has a lot to learn tactically, but his potential is extraordinary." Mourinho was equally effusive about Diomande’s 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 £120 million signing of Güler, a former Leipzig winger, raises questions about squad balance, as some observers suggest a more defensive midfielder might have been a wiser investment. Valencia’s struggles continued, culminating in a 0-1 defeat to Sevilla that saw head coach Carlos Corberán lose his job.
The club’s poor start has alarmed supporters and owners alike, especially with the imminent opening of the new 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium. Meanwhile, in Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a renaissance thanks to veteran striker Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five league matches, inching toward the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive games with a goal.
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 rallied from a 0-2 halftime deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio, thanks to a bold triple substitution by manager Rúben Amorim. He introduced Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán, a gamble that paid off when summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals after coming off the bench.
Amorim defended his decisions, acknowledging that a half‑time turnaround is insufficient for a title‑challenging side. Lazio’s fan base remained vocal, with many supporting Milan as protests against club president Claudio Lotito continued.
Juventus saw their unbeaten run snapped when Sassuolo’s 20‑year‑old Montenegrin loanee Vasilije Adžić netted a 94th‑minute winner after Juve had equalised in stoppage time. The weekend also featured a spectacular performance from teenage Franco Mastantuono, who scored a hat‑trick for Fiorentina in a 4-2 victory at Venezia, providing a bright spot after manager 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’s Ligue 1, Paris Saint‑Germain finally recorded their first win of the season, with Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal at Brest. The match was memorable for manager Luis Enrique’s tribute shirt reading "King Eric" in honor of the late Brest coach Eric Roy.
Lille surged to the top of the table after Ethan Mbappé – Kylian’s younger brother – found the net. Coach Davide Ancelotti has navigated a difficult summer transfer window, yet Lille remain one of five unbeaten sides. Rennes also stayed unbeaten, delivering a third consecutive defeat to Marseille. Elsewhere, Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner, while Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw.
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 manager Will Still his first points in charge.
Archer’s intelligent movement and clinical finish underscore why Saints boss Tonny Eckert has advocated for a loan move to 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 Dutch Eredivisie, Davy Klaassen etched his name in history by scoring for Ajax at 24 different stadiums, a feat previously achieved only by Johan Cruyff. Ajax defeated Fortuna Sittard 5-1, while Feyenoord displayed attacking prowess with a 7-0 demolition of PEC Zwolle.
PSV’s 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam was pivotal, propelling the defending champions back to the summit after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. Portugal’s Primeira Liga saw Sporting drop points in stoppage‑time against Famalicão despite the visitors playing with ten men. Porto and Benfica both staged comebacks to win their matches, setting the stage for an exciting "O Clássico" next weekend.
Overall, this week’s football across Europe has been defined by individual brilliance – from Kane’s trademark strike and Mbappé’s debut goal for Real Madrid to Yamal’s double for Barcelona – as well as tactical adjustments, managerial changes and the ever‑present battle for league supremacy. The Euro Debrief will continue to track these evolving narratives as the season progresses.