Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate distils the most compelling narratives from the latest matches across Europe. This week’s roundup covers everything from a classic Harry Kane strike to surprising twists in LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Dutch Eredivisie. In the Bundesliga, the long‑awaited breakthrough finally came for Bayern Munich when England captain Harry Kane netted his 150th goal for the Bavarian giants in the 72nd minute against Elversberg. The finish echoed his World Cup winner against DR Congo – a powerful, low‑driven effort that finally put an end to Elversberg’s unbeaten run and handed Bayern their first defeat of the campaign.
Despite the victory, Bayern have yet to reclaim the top spot in the league table; that honor currently belongs to Freiburg, who thrashed a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach 5‑0. The defeat prompted Mönchengladbach to dismiss coach Eugen Polanski, who lamented after the Elversberg loss, "We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me." His frustration grew after the heavier loss to Freiburg, leaving the club teetering on the brink of another relegation battle after barely surviving last season.
Over at Dortmund, the team maintained a perfect record thanks to Felix Nmecha’s double‑header, which capped a polished 3‑0 win over Paderborn. The opening goal came from Portuguese youngster Fabio Silva, who made his first Bundesliga start of the season and already matched his total tally from the previous campaign with four goals. Silva’s emergence is vital for Dortmund, especially after injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings, and his performances suggest he can fill the void. Schalke, still adjusting to life back in the top flight, celebrated their first Bundesliga triumph of the season with a gritty 1‑3 victory over Union Berlin, holding just 34 percent of possession but making the most of their chances.
Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Niclas Fullkrug added another goal to his growing list, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable penalty‑save streak to six in a row during a 3‑1 win at Mainz – a record only Johan Cruyff has ever approached in Dutch football. The full set 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 been underwhelming. After a prolific stretch that saw them score five goals in two consecutive away matches, they were held to four against Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal netting a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha appeared to hand over some creative responsibilities, perhaps to bolster his Ballon d'Or credentials. Real Madrid, on the other hand, bounced back from a defeat to Real Betis with a convincing 4‑1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring and added a second, 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 the need for tactical growth.
Arda Güler, who entered the game in the 72nd minute, provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal and created five chances – the most of any player on the pitch – underscoring the depth of attacking talent at Madrid. Yet Mourinho’s comments hinted at a desire for a more balanced midfield, perhaps favouring a holding player over the £120 million Güler acquisition.
Valencia’s woes continued as they fell 1‑0 to Sevilla, leading to the dismissal of coach Carlos Corberán. The decision reflects the club’s anxiety about potentially starting the next season in the Segunda División, especially as their long‑delayed 70,000‑seat arena, Nou Mestalla, finally nears completion. In contrast, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a renaissance thanks to veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of his first five league games, chasing the all‑time LaLiga record of seven. Serie A delivered drama in Italy as AC Milan clawed back from a 0‑2 deficit to draw 2‑2 with Lazio, thanks to a bold triple substitution by manager Rubén Amorim.
Newcomer Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals, while Lazio’s fan unrest grew amid protests against president Claudio Lotito. Juventus saw their unbeaten run shattered when 20‑year‑old Vasilije Adžić, on loan at Sassuolo, struck a 94th‑minute winner against them after Juve had equalised in stoppage time. Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s teenage prodigy Franco Mastantuono recorded a hat‑trick in a 4‑2 win over Venezia, providing a bright spot after coach Fabio Grosso’s recent sacking.
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 featured a touching tribute from manager Luis Enrique, who wore a “King Eric” shirt in memory of former Brest coach Eric Roy. Lille surged to the top of the table after Ethan Mbappé – Kylian’s younger brother – found the net, while Rennes continued their unbeaten run by beating Marseille for a third straight time.
Paris FC and Lyon settled for a goalless draw, and 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, impressed by scoring the winner against Nice, earning manager Will Still his first points in charge. Archer’s movement and composure have drawn praise from Saints boss Tondu Eckert, who sees the loan as a valuable development opportunity.
The Dutch Eredivisie saw Ajax’s Davy Klaassen become only the second player after Johan Cruyff to score at 24 different stadiums, as Ajax cruised to a 5‑1 victory over Fortuna Sittard. Feyenoord’s attacking display was even more prolific, netting seven against PEC Zwolle, while PSV’s 4‑1 win over Sparta Rotterdam propelled them back to the top after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. In Portugal, Sporting suffered a late concession at Famalicão, allowing the hosts to equalise in stoppage time despite playing with ten men. Porto and Benfica both mounted comebacks to win their fixtures, setting the stage for an electrifying O Clássico next weekend.
Overall, the week offered a rich tapestry of goals, managerial changes, emerging stars and record‑breaking feats, all of which will shape the remainder of the European season.