Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate distils the most compelling narratives emerging 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 and other rising stars.
In Germany, Harry Kane finally broke Bayern Munich’s unbeaten streak with a signature strike that mirrored his World Cup winner against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The England captain netted his 150th Bayern goal in the 72nd minute, sealing a 2-1 victory over newly promoted Elversberg and handing the Bavarians their first defeat of the campaign. Despite the win, Bayern have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga; that honor currently belongs to Freiburg, who thumped Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-0. The loss prompted Mönchengladbach to dismiss coach Eugen Polanski, who lamented the team’s inexplicable errors after a loss to Elversberg and an even heavier defeat at Freiburg.
The club, already flirting with relegation after narrowly escaping the drop last season, now faces a steep uphill battle. Elsewhere in the league, Borussia Dortmund maintained their perfect record, with Felix Nmecha delivering a brace of dazzling goals in a 3-0 demolition of Paderborn. The win was set up by Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who made his first Bundesliga start of the season and added his fourth goal of the campaign—already surpassing his total from the entire previous season. Silva’s emergence comes at a crucial time, as Dortmund have been forced to rely on younger talent after injuries sidelined their high‑profile Greek signings.
Schalke, still adjusting to life back in the top flight, earned their first Bundesliga victory of the season with a gritty 1-3 win over Union Berlin, holding just 34% of possession but making the most of their chances. Niclas Füllkrug continued his scoring run for Werder Bremen, while Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable penalty‑save streak to six consecutive spot‑kicks in a 3-1 triumph at Mainz.
His heroics underscore the fine margins that often decide Bundesliga matches. The full round 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 slipped a little.
After a prolific stretch that saw them score five goals in their previous two away fixtures, they were held to four in a 4-2 victory over Levante. Young prodigy Lamine Yamal netted a brace, including a penalty, while veteran Raphinha seemed to hand over creative duties, perhaps to boost his Ballon d'Or credentials. Karim Adeyemi produced what many called the best goal of the match, reinforcing the attacking firepower at manager Hansi Flick’s disposal, though defensive frailties remain a concern. Real Madrid rebounded from a defeat to Real Betis with a commanding 4-1 win at the Bernabéu against Rayo Vallecano.
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 while noting 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—showcasing the depth of talent in Madrid’s attacking ranks. Despite the £120 million price tag on Diomande, Mourinho hinted that a more defensive midfielder might have been a wiser investment, especially as rivals Barcelona continue to leak goals.
Valencia’s woes persisted, culminating in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a loss to Sevilla. The club’s owner appears desperate to avoid a second‑tier return, especially with the long‑awaited Nou Mestalla stadium finally nearing completion.
In contrast, Galicia’s Deportivo A Coruña enjoys a renaissance led by veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five league games, chasing the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive scoring appearances. LaLiga’s round‑up: 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 Rubén Amorim. He brought on Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán, a move that paid off when summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals.
Amorim admitted the performance was merely a point‑gathering effort and stressed the need for consistency across both halves of matches. The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was heavily tilted toward Milan, as Lazio supporters continued protests against club president Claudio Lotito. Despite the unrest, Lazio remain unbeaten this season.
Juventus saw their unbeaten run shattered by an own‑goal‑type scenario: 20‑year‑old Vasilije Adžić, on loan at Sassuolo from Montenegro, netted the winner in the 94th minute after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time. Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono delivered a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory over Venezia, providing a bright spot after coach Fabio Grosso’s recent sacking.
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 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.
New manager Davide Ancelotti has guided Lille to an unbeaten start despite losing several star players in the summer window. Rennes also remain unbeaten, having handed Marseille a third straight defeat. Monaco salvaged a point against Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner, a player many believe possesses massive potential.
Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton to Auxerre, continued his fine form by scoring the winner against Nice, earning his former boss Will Still his first points in charge. Archer’s intelligent movement and clinical finish illustrate why the club were eager to secure his services for the French league. Ligue 1 round‑up: 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 etched his name alongside legends by scoring for Ajax at 24 different venues, a feat only Johan Cruyff has surpassed. Ajax’s 5-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard was modest compared to Feyenoord’s seven‑goal outburst at PEC Zwolle, but PSV’s 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam was the most consequential, propelling the defending champions back to the summit after AZ Alkmaar slipped at home to Willem II. Portuguese football also delivered drama: Sporting conceded a stoppage‑time equaliser at Famalicão despite the hosts playing with ten men, while both Porto and Benfica rallied from behind to win, setting the stage for an electrifying O Clássico next weekend.
Overall, this week’s continental action showcased the brilliance of Ballon d'Or candidates—Kane’s clinical finish, Mbappé’s decisive strike, and Yamal’s poise under pressure—while also highlighting emerging talents and the ever‑shifting fortunes of clubs across Europe.