Welcome to The Euro Debrief, the latest Sky Sports column where 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 sensation Lamine Yamal. In Germany, the Bayern Munich side finally felt the sting of defeat thanks to a classic Harry Kane finish.
The England captain, now wearing the Bayern colours, netted his 150th goal for the club in the 72nd minute – a strike that echoed his World Cup winner against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kane’s goal broke the unbeaten run of the newly promoted Elversberg, handing Bayern their first loss of the campaign.
Bayern remain off the summit of the Bundesliga, however, as Freiburg sit atop the table after a commanding 5-0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach. The defeat prompted Mönchengladbach to part ways with manager Eugen Polanski, who lamented, "We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me." Polanski’s frustration grew after a loss to Elversberg the previous weekend, and his comments were dwarfed by the humiliation suffered at Freiburg.
The club, already flirting with relegation after a narrow escape last season, now faces a precarious future. Further down the table, Borussia Dortmund preserved their perfect start to the season.
Felix Nmecha dazzled with a brace, securing a 3-0 victory over Paderborn, while Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, making his first Bundesliga start, supplied the assist for the opening goal. Silva’s fourth goal of the campaign already eclipses his total from the entire previous season, underscoring his rapid adaptation after injuries sidelined the club’s high‑profile Greek signings.
Schalke, Dortmund’s fierce rivals, celebrated their first win since returning to the top flight, edging Union Berlin 1-3 while possessing barely a third of the ball. Niclas Fullkrug continued his scoring run for Werder Bremen, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s keeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable penalty‑stop record to six consecutive saves in a 3-1 triumph at Mainz. Nadiem Amiri’s recent ten‑goal streak was halted, but Atubolu proved that he is a different breed. The Bundesliga round‑up of 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 Spain, Barcelona’s recent form has slipped. After scoring five goals in their previous two away matches, they managed only four in a 4-2 win over Levante, with Lamine Yamal netting a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha appears to have ceded some creative duties, perhaps to bolster his Ballon d'Or credentials. Karim Adeyemi delivered what many considered the best goal of the weekend, highlighting the firepower at manager Hansi Flick’s disposal while also exposing defensive frailties that could be exploited by stronger opponents.
With 19 goals in four games, Barcelona’s attack is prolific, but their defensive lapses remain a concern. 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, on loan, opened the scoring and later added a second, while Jude Bellingham also found the net.
New signing Yan Diomande earned his first start, prompting manager José Mourinho to comment, "He has a lot to learn tactically, but his potential is amazing." Mourinho was equally effusive 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 most of any player on the pitch. The £120 million acquisition of Güler raises questions about squad balance, as some observers suggest a more defensive midfielder might have been a wiser investment.
Valencia’s woes continued, culminating in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a defeat to Sevilla. The club’s chaotic start has alarmed its owners, who fear the prospect of a second‑division season just as the long‑awaited Nou Mestalla stadium nears completion. In contrast, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a renaissance led by veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five league games, edging toward the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive scoring matches.
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 Italy, AC Milan clawed back from a 0-2 halftime deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio, thanks to a bold triple substitution by manager Rúben Amorim.
The changes brought in Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán, all of whom helped turn the tide. Diego Moreira, a summer signing, entered the fray and scored both Milan goals.
Amorim defended his decision, stating, "We took a point, but we must improve – you cannot rely on one half of the game." The match was played in front of a crowd more supportive of Milan than Lazio, reflecting ongoing fan protests against Lazio president Claudio Lotito. Despite the unrest, Lazio remain unbeaten. Juventus saw their unbeaten Serie A run snapped when Vasilije Adžić, a 20‑year‑old Montenegro international on loan at Sassuolo, netted a 94th‑minute winner after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s teenage prodigy Franco Mastantuono delivered a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory over Venezia, providing a bright spot after coach Fabio Grosso’s recent 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, Paris Saint‑Germain finally secured their first Ligue 1 win of the season, with Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal at Brest. The match was marked by Luis Enrique wearing a 'King Eric' shirt in tribute to the late Brest coach Eric Roy.
Lille surged to the top of the table after Ethan Mbappé, Kylian’s younger brother, scored the decisive goal against Troyes. Manager Davide Ancelotti has impressed despite a summer exodus of star players, and Lille are now one of five unbeaten sides.
Rennes continued their unbeaten run by handing Marseille a third consecutive defeat. Paris FC and Lyon shared a goalless draw, while Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner, a rising talent. Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton to Auxerre, scored the winner against Nice, earning his former manager Will Still his first points in charge. Archer’s intelligent movement and clinical finish have drawn praise from Southampton’s director of football, Tonda Eckert, who noted the club’s willingness to let the young striker gain experience 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 Dutch Eredivisie, Davy Klaassen made history for Ajax by scoring at 24 different stadiums, a feat previously achieved only by Johan Cruyff. Ajax’s 5-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard was modest compared with Feyenoord’s seven‑goal demolition of 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 against Willem II. Portugal saw Sporting lose points in stoppage time at Famalicão despite the visitors being reduced to ten men.
Both Porto and Benfica rallied from deficits to win, setting up an intriguing O Clássico next weekend. Overall, this week’s continental action underscored the depth of talent across Europe, with Ballon d'Or candidates continuing to influence outcomes, clubs battling for supremacy, and emerging stars adding fresh intrigue to the season’s narrative.