Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a fresh Sky Sports column where Adam Bate pulls together the most compelling narratives from the latest fixtures across Europe. This week’s roundup covers a whirlwind of action, surprise results, and individual brilliance that could shape the season’s biggest awards. In Germany, the long‑awaited breakthrough finally arrived for Bayern Munich when their new signing, England captain Harry Kane, struck a trademark finish to seal a 2‑1 victory over Elversberg.
The goal, coming in the 72nd minute, marked Kane’s 150th for Bayern and echoed the composure he displayed when he netted the winner against DR Congo at the World Cup. The win also handed the newcomers their first defeat of the campaign.
Despite the triumph, Bayern have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga. Freiburg currently sit in first place after a dominant 5‑0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side, a result that prompted Mönchengladbach to dismiss coach Eugen Polanski. Polanski, after a loss to Elversberg, lamented, “We did so many things wrong – something that is inexplicable to me.” His frustration only grew after the heavier defeat at Freiburg, and the club now looks vulnerable to another relegation battle after barely surviving last season.
Further down the table, Borussia Dortmund kept their perfect start alive with a 3‑0 win over Paderborn, thanks to a double‑strike from Felix Nmecha that dazzled the crowd. The performance was set up by Portuguese forward Fabio Silva, who made his first Bundesliga start of the season and added his fourth goal of the campaign – already surpassing his total from the previous year. Silva’s emergence comes at a crucial time as Dortmund cope with injuries to their high‑profile Greek signings, and his contributions suggest he can fill the void. Rival club Schalke earned their first Bundesliga victory since returning to the top flight, edging Union Berlin 1‑3 while possessing just 34 percent of the ball, a testament to their efficiency.
Meanwhile, Niclas Füllkrug continued his scoring run for Werder Bremen, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu extended his remarkable penalty‑save streak to six consecutive spot‑kicks in a 3‑1 win at Mainz. The full set of Bundesliga results for the weekend was 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 scoring spree slowed slightly as they managed four goals against Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal netting a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha’s reduced involvement raised questions about his role in Yamal’s burgeoning Ballon d’Or campaign.
Karim Adeyemi produced what many called the best goal of the match, underscoring the firepower at manager Hansi Flick’s disposal, though defensive frailties remain a concern. Real Madrid bounced back from a defeat to Real Betis with a convincing 4‑1 triumph over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé started and finished the scoring, while Jude Bellingham also found the net. New signing Yan Diomande made his first start, prompting Mourinho to note his tactical learning curve but praise his potential.
Substitute Arda Güler, who entered in the 72nd minute, provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal and created five chances – the most of any player on the pitch – highlighting the depth of attacking talent at Madrid. Yet Mourinho’s comments hinted that a more defensive midfielder might have been a wiser investment than the £120 million Güler. In Valencia, a poor run culminated in the dismissal of Carlos Corberán after a loss to Sevilla.
The club’s owner faces pressure as the long‑delayed Nou Mestalla stadium finally nears completion, and the fear of a second‑division debut looms large. Further north, Deportivo A Coruña enjoy a revival led by veteran Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five league games, chasing the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive matches with a goal. The LaLiga 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 Serie A, AC Milan clawed back from a 0‑2 halftime deficit to draw 2‑2 with Lazio after manager Rubén Amorim’s bold triple substitution – swapping in Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Pervis Estupiñán – paid off when summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals. Amorim admitted the performance was insufficient for a win, stressing the need for consistency across both halves of the game. Lazio, meanwhile, remain unbeaten despite fan protests against president Claudio Lotito and a hostile atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico, where Milan supporters outnumbered the home fans. Juventus saw their unbeaten streak snapped by a dramatic 94th‑minute winner from Vasilije Adžić, a 20‑year‑old Montenegro international on loan at Sassuolo, after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time.
The weekend also featured a sensational hat‑trick from 17‑year‑old Franco Mastantuono, who led Fiorentina to a 4‑2 victory at Venezia, a performance that came shortly 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 secured their first win of the season, with Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal at Brest.
The match was marked by Luis Enrique’s tribute shirt reading “King Eric” in memory of former Brest coach Eric Roy, who passed away in June. Lille surged to the top of the French table after Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian, found the net. Manager Davide Ancelotti has begun his tenure positively despite the loss of key stars in the summer.
Lille join four other clubs that remain unbeaten. Rennes continued their unbeaten run by handing Marseille a third consecutive defeat. Elsewhere, Paris FC and Lyon drew 0‑0, while Monaco salvaged a point at Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular goal from Paris Brunner, a player many regard as a future star. Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton to Auxerre, scored the winning goal against Nice after debuting with a goal in a loss the previous week.
His performance earned praise from his former boss Will Still, who noted Archer’s intelligent movement and clinical finish. Archer’s impact highlights the value of loan deals for both player development and club success.
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 Eredivisie, Davy Klaassen made history for Ajax by scoring at 24 different stadiums, a feat only Johan Cruyff has surpassed. Ajax defeated Fortuna Sittard 5‑1, while Feyenoord’s attacking display produced seven goals against PEC Zwolle.
PSV’s 4‑1 win over Sparta Rotterdam was pivotal, propelling the defending champions back to the top after AZ Alkmaar slipped up against Willem II. Portugal’s Primeira Liga saw Sporting drop points late, conceding a stoppage‑time goal at Famalicão despite the hosts playing with ten men. Porto and Benfica both rallied from deficits to win, setting up an intriguing O Clássico next weekend. These stories illustrate the dynamic nature of European football this season, with established stars and emerging talents alike influencing title races, relegation battles, and individual award conversations.
The Euro Debrief will continue to track these developments as the campaign unfolds.