Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate pulls together the most compelling narratives from this week’s action across Europe. This edition covers a whirlwind of matches, surprise results and individual brilliance that will shape the continent’s football storylines. Harry Kane finally broke the dead‑lock for Bayern Munich against Elversberg, delivering a signature strike in the 72nd minute that marked his 150th goal for the German giants.
The finish bore a striking resemblance to his World Cup winner against DR Congo, combining power, precision and a calm composure that only a seasoned international can muster. The victory was especially sweet for the Bavarian side, as it ended a brief spell of unbeaten runs for the newcomers. While Bayern secured the win, they have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga.
That honour currently belongs to Freiburg, who thrashed a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach 5‑0. The heavy defeat prompted Gladbach to dismiss head coach Eugen Polanski. Polanski, in a post‑match interview, admitted, "We made so many mistakes – it’s baffling to me," after a loss to Elversberg the previous weekend.
The situation at Gladbach looks precarious; after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, they now appear vulnerable to a repeat. In Dortmund, the unbeaten run continued as Felix Nmecha dazzled with a brace, leading the team to a 3‑0 triumph over Paderborn. The opening goal came from Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who earned his first Bundesliga start of the campaign. Silva’s fourth goal of the season already eclipses his total from the entire previous year, highlighting his rapid adaptation and the importance of his contributions while the club copes with injuries to its high‑profile Greek signings.
Schalke, still finding their footing after promotion, celebrated their first top‑flight victory with a 1‑3 win over Union Berlin, despite possessing merely 34% of the ball. Meanwhile, Niclas Füllkrug added another strike for Werder Bremen, keeping their attack ticking over.
A standout performance came from Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who extended his remarkable record by saving a sixth consecutive penalty in a 3‑1 win at Mainz. While Nadiem Amiri had already netted ten goals, Atubolu’s penalty‑saving streak underscores a unique talent that can change the outcome of tight matches. Bundesliga results summary: 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 slightly. After a prolific spell of five goals in two away fixtures, they settled for a 4‑2 victory over Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal netting a brace, one of them a penalty. Raphinha’s reduced involvement hints that the club may be reshuffling responsibilities to bolster his Ballon d'Or campaign.
Karim Adeyemi produced what many considered the match’s best goal, adding to the firepower at Hansi Flick’s disposal. However, defensive frailties remain a concern, and stronger opponents could test Barcelona’s resilience despite their impressive 19‑goal tally in four games.
In the same roundup, Real Madrid rebounded from a loss to Real Betis with a convincing 4‑1 win 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 comment, "He has a lot to learn tactically, but his potential is extraordinary." Mourinho also praised substitute Arda Güler, who provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal and created five chances after entering in the 72nd minute – the highest number of chances created by any player on the pitch. The £120 million acquisition of Diomande raises questions about squad balance, as Madrid already boasts a wealth of attacking options.
Some observers suggest a more defensively minded midfielder might have been a wiser investment, especially given Rodri’s inability to single‑handedly shore up the back line. Valencia’s woes continued, culminating in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a loss to Sevilla. The club’s owner appears desperate to avoid a second‑tier debut, especially as the long‑awaited Nou Mestalla stadium finally nears completion. Meanwhile, in Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a revival 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 appearances.
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 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 Rúben Amorim.
He introduced Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán, a move that paid off when summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals. Amorim admitted, "We took a point, but the performance shows we need to improve; you cannot rely on a single half." Lazio’s supporters remained vocal, protesting against club president Claudio Lotito, while coach Gennaro Gattuso likened the atmosphere to playing during the pandemic. Despite the unrest, Lazio stay unbeaten. Juventus saw their unbeaten Serie A run shattered when 20‑year‑old Vasilije Adžić, on loan at Sassuolo, netted a 94th‑minute winner against them after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina’s 19‑year‑old prodigy Franco Mastantuono erupted for a hat‑trick in a 4‑2 win at Venezia, offering a bright spot after the sacking 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 claimed their first 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 former Brest coach Eric Roy, who passed away in June.
Lille surged to the top of the table thanks to a goal from Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian. New manager Davide Ancelotti has steered the club well despite losing several star players in the summer window, keeping Lille among the five unbeaten sides. Rennes also remain unbeaten, handing Marseille their third straight 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 youngster who appears destined for greatness. Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton, made an immediate impact for Auxerre. After scoring on his debut in a loss, he followed up with the winner against Nice, earning his former boss Will Still his first points in charge. "Will Still asked early if Cam could come to France," explained Southampton manager Ton Dijk.
Archer’s intelligent movement and clinical finish underline why the loan is proving beneficial for all parties. In the Eredivisie, Davy Klaassen etched his name alongside legends by scoring for Ajax at 24 different venues, a feat previously achieved only by Johan Cruyff. Ajax won 5‑1 at Fortuna Sittard.
Feyenoord responded with a seven‑goal haul at PEC Zwolle, while PSV’s 4‑1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam was pivotal, propelling the champions back to the summit after AZ Alkmaar slipped at home to Willem II. Portugal’s Primeira Liga saw Sporting drop points in stoppage time against Famalicão, despite the visitors playing with ten men. Both Porto and Benfica rallied from deficits to win, setting up an enticing O Clássico showdown next weekend. Overall, this week’s European football landscape has been defined by individual brilliance – from Kane’s milestone strike to Atubolu’s penalty‑saving streak – and by clubs fighting for survival, European spots and domestic glory.
The narratives are still unfolding, and Adam Bate will continue to track the twists and turns as the season progresses.