Welcome to The Euro Debrief, the latest Sky Sports column where Adam Bate pulls together the most compelling storylines from this week’s action across Europe. This edition covers a whirlwind of results, individual brilliance and a few surprising twists in the top leagues. In the Bundesliga, England captain Harry Kane finally broke the dead‑lock for Bayern Munich with a classic strike that mirrored his World Cup winner against DR Congo. The goal, his 150th for the Bavarian giants, arrived in the 72nd minute against newcomers Elversberg, securing Bayern’s first defeat of the season and ending the visitors’ unbeaten run.
While the win was a relief for Bayern, they remain outside the league summit, which is currently occupied by Freiburg after their emphatic 5‑0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side. The loss prompted Mönchengladbach to dismiss coach Eugen Polanski, who lamented after the Elversberg defeat, “We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me.” Polanski’s dismissal underscores the precarious position of Gladbach, who barely survived relegation last season and now look vulnerable to a repeat.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund continued their flawless start, with Felix Nmecha netting a brace in a 3‑0 victory 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 previous season’s goal tally after just four matches. Silva’s emergence comes at a crucial time as Dortmund cope with injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings, and his early impact suggests he could become a key figure.
Schalke, still finding their feet after promotion, celebrated their first top‑flight win by out‑working Union Berlin despite possessing only 34% of the ball. Elsewhere, Werder Bremen’s Niclas Fullkrug added another goal to his growing list, while Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable penalty‑save streak to six consecutive attempts in a 3‑1 triumph at Mainz.
Such feats highlight the thin margins that can decide matches in Germany’s competitive league. The full round of Bundesliga results reads: 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.
After scoring five goals across their last two away fixtures, they were held to four against Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal netting a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha’s reduced involvement raises questions about his role in the Ballon d’Or conversation, while Karim Adeyemi’s goal was voted the best of the match, showcasing the attacking firepower at manager Hansi Flick’s disposal. Barcelona’s 19 goals in four games suggest they remain potent, but defensive frailties could be their undoing.
Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a convincing 4‑1 victory 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: “He has a lot to learn tactically, but his talent is extraordinary.” Mourinho was equally enthusiastic about 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 acquisition of Diomande continues to spark debate, as some wonder whether a more defensive midfielder would have better suited Madrid’s needs, especially given Rodri’s recent move to Barcelona. Valencia’s woes persisted, culminating in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a defeat to Sevilla.
The club’s frantic push to avoid a second‑division drop ahead of the completion of their new 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium has added pressure on the board, which has yet to find a stable direction. In the north, Deportivo A Coruña are enjoying a renaissance led by veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five league matches, edging toward the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive scoring games. LaLiga’s latest scores: 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 after manager Rúben Amorim’s bold triple substitution at the break – Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán all entered, and 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. Lazio’s unbeaten run continues despite a hostile atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico, where many fans supported Milan in protest against club president Claudio Lotito. Meanwhile, Juventus saw their unbeaten streak shattered when Sassuolo’s 20‑year‑old Montenegrin loanee Vasilije Adžić scored a 94th‑minute winner after Juve had equalised in stoppage time.
Fiorentina’s teenage prodigy Franco Mastantuono delivered a stunning hat‑trick in a 4‑2 victory over Venezia, offering a bright spot after the club’s recent dismissal 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 scoring the solitary goal at Brest. The match also featured Luis Enrique wearing a tribute shirt for 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 overseen a solid start despite a summer exodus of star players, and Lille remain one of five unbeaten sides.
Rennes continued their unbeaten run by beating Marseille for a third straight time. Elsewhere, Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw, while Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner, a youngster who is already drawing attention for his talent.
Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton to Auxerre, scored the winner against Nice after debuting with a goal in a defeat the previous weekend. His performance earned praise from former boss Will Still, who highlighted Archer’s intelligent movement and finishing ability. In the Eredivisie, former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen made history for Ajax by scoring at 24 different stadiums, a feat only surpassed by Dutch legend Johan Cruyff. Ajax’s 5‑1 victory over Fortuna Sittard was modest compared with Feyenoord’s seven‑goal thrashing of PEC Zwolle, while PSV’s 4‑1 win over Sparta Rotterdam propelled them back to the top of the table after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II.
João Moutinho of Braga celebrated his 40th birthday, underscoring his extraordinary longevity in top‑level football. In Portugal, Sporting suffered a late equaliser at Famalicão despite the hosts playing most of the match with ten men. Both Porto and Benfica rallied from behind to claim victories, setting up an enticing O Clássico next weekend.
Overall, this week’s European football narrative is defined by veteran stars like Kane and Mbappé delivering decisive moments, emerging talents such as Lamine Yamal and Cameron Archer making headlines, and clubs across the continent jostling for position as the season progresses.