Welcome to the Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate gathers the most compelling narratives from the latest matches across Europe. This week’s roundup covers a whirlwind of action in the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and beyond, highlighting standout performances from some of the game’s biggest names and rising stars. In Germany, Harry Kane finally broke Bayern Munich’s unbeaten streak against the minnows of Elversberg. The England captain, now a Bayern veteran, netted his 150th goal for the Bavarian giants in the 72nd minute – a strike that recalled his dramatic winner against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the World Cup.
The goal proved decisive as Bayern suffered their first loss of the campaign, ending a promising start. Bayern’s position at the summit of the Bundesliga remains in flux. Freiburg seized the top spot after a commanding 5-0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side, who have already dismissed coach Eugen Polanski following a disastrous defeat to Elversberg. Polanski lamented, "We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me," a sentiment echoed by Freiburg’s fans after they delivered a masterclass performance.
Mönchengladbach now teeter on the brink of a relegation battle after narrowly escaping the drop last season. Further down the table, Borussia Dortmund preserved their perfect record with a 3-0 victory over Paderborn, thanks to a brace from Felix Nmecha. The Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, making his first Bundesliga start of the season, supplied the assist for the opening goal.
Silva’s fourth goal of the campaign already surpasses his total from the entire previous season, underlining his growing importance as Dortmund cope with injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings. Schalke, still finding their feet after promotion, earned their first Bundesliga win of the season by edging Union Berlin 1-3, albeit with a modest 34% possession rate. Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Niclas Fullkrug continued his scoring run, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable penalty‑saving streak to six consecutive spot‑kicks in a 3-1 triumph at Mainz. Such feats are rare and highlight Atubolu’s unique composure under pressure.
The full slate 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 slightly. After a prolific run of five goals in their previous two away fixtures, they managed only four in a 4-2 victory over Levante.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal shone, scoring twice – one from the spot – and playing a pivotal role in the win. His performances are fueling speculation that he could become a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or, especially as veteran winger Raphinha appears to be passing the creative baton. Karim Adeyemi delivered what many considered the best goal of the weekend, showcasing the lethal firepower at manager Hansi Flick’s disposal.
Yet, defensive frailties remain a concern for Barcelona, and the question looms: will stronger opponents exploit these gaps as the season progresses? With 19 goals in four matches, Barcelona’s attack is undeniably potent, but balance will be essential.
In Madrid, Real secured a convincing 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé, on loan from Paris Saint‑Germain, opened the scoring and later added a second, while Jude Bellingham also found the net.
The spotlight, however, fell on young defender Yan Diomande, who earned his first start. Manager José Mourinho praised Diomande’s potential, noting his tactical learning curve, and also lauded substitute Arda Güler for stabilising the midfield after entering in the 72nd minute. Güler created five chances – the most of any player on the pitch – and provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal.
Despite the £120 million price tag on Diomande, Mourinho hinted that a more defensively‑oriented midfielder might have been a wiser investment, especially as rivals like Barcelona continue to expose defensive lapses. Valencia’s woes persisted, culminating in a 1-0 loss to Sevilla that saw coach Carlos Corberán lose his job. The club’s chaotic start to the season has alarmed owner Peter Lim, who fears a relegation battle could jeopardise the completion of the long‑awaited Nou Mestalla stadium. Meanwhile, in Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña are enjoying a revival thanks to veteran forward Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has already scored in each of his first five games – a record that could see him finish the season with seven LaLiga goals, matching his own best tally.
LaLiga’s weekend results were: 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 staged a dramatic comeback against Lazio, drawing 2-2 after falling two goals behind at halftime. Manager Rúben Amorim’s bold triple substitution – bringing on Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán – paid dividends, with summer signing Diego Moreira scoring both Milan goals.
Amorim stressed the need for consistency across both halves of the game, despite the point earned. Lazio, meanwhile, remain unbeaten but face unrest among their supporters, who continue protests against president Claudio Lotito. Juventus saw their unbeaten streak shattered when Sassuolo’s 20‑year‑old Montenegrin loanee Vasilije Adžić netted a 94th‑minute winner after Juve had equalised in stoppage time. The weekend’s Italian highlight, however, was Fiorentina teenager Franco Mastantuono, who recorded a hat‑trick in a 4-2 victory at Venezia, providing a bright spot after coach 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, Paris Saint‑Germain finally broke their winless run with a 1-0 triumph at Brest, the solitary goal coming from Ferran Torres. The match also featured 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 Ligue 1 after Ethan Mbappé – Kylian’s younger brother – scored the decisive goal in a 2-0 win over Troyes.
New coach Davide Ancelotti has started strongly despite a summer exodus of star players, and Lille are now one of five unbeaten sides. Rennes continued their unbeaten run by defeating Marseille 1-0, while Monaco secured a point with a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg, thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner. Auxerre’s on‑loan Southampton striker Cameron Archer, who had previously scored on debut in a loss, delivered the winner against Nice, earning his former boss Will Still his first points in charge.
Archer’s intelligent movement and clinical finish underline why he is highly regarded by both clubs. Ligue 1’s weekend scores: 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 stadiums – a feat previously achieved only by Johan Cruyff.
Ajax’s 5-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard was modest compared to Feyenoord’s seven‑goal haul at PEC Zwolle, but PSV’s 4-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam was the most consequential, propelling the defending champions back to the top of the table after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. Portugal’s Primeira Liga saw Sporting drop points in a dramatic stoppage‑time equaliser at Famalicão, despite the home side being reduced to ten men. Both Porto and Benfica rallied from deficits to claim victories, setting the stage for an electrifying O Clássico next weekend. Overall, the week delivered a blend of surprise upsets, individual brilliance, and managerial intrigue across Europe’s top leagues, with Ballon d’Or hopefuls Kane, Mbappé and Yamal all leaving a lasting imprint on the continental stage.