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 edition covers a whirlwind of action, from the Bundesliga to LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and beyond, highlighting the performances of Ballon d'Or hopefuls and other standout players. In Germany, Harry Kane finally broke Bayern Munich's unbeaten run against the minnows of Elversberg with a classic strike that echoed his World Cup winner against DR Congo.
The England captain, now with Bayern, netted his 150th goal for the club in the 72nd minute, a powerful finish that underscored his reputation as a big‑game scorer. Despite the victory, Bayern have yet to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga, which remains occupied by Freiburg after their emphatic 5‑0 demolition of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side.
The loss prompted Mönchengladbach to dismiss manager Eugen Polanski, who lamented the team's "inexplicable" errors following a defeat to Elversberg. Further down the table, Borussia Dortmund kept their perfect record alive as Felix Nmecha delivered a brace of spectacular goals in a 3‑0 win over Paderborn. The match was opened up by Fabio Silva, the Portuguese forward who earned his first Bundesliga start of the season and already matched his total goal tally from the previous campaign with four strikes. Injuries to Dortmund's high‑profile Greek signings have forced the club to rely on emerging talent, and Silva’s contributions suggest he can fill the void.
Schalke, still finding their footing after promotion, secured their first Bundesliga win of the season with a gritty 1‑3 victory over Union Berlin, managing the feat while holding just 34% possession. Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug continued his scoring run, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu etched his name into the record books by saving a sixth consecutive penalty in a 3‑1 triumph at Mainz. Such feats highlight the fine margins that can decide matches in Germany’s top flight. 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 Spain, Barcelona’s recent form has been mixed. After scoring five goals across two away fixtures, they settled for a 4‑2 win over Levante, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal netting a brace, including a penalty. Raphinha appeared to step back from the spotlight, perhaps to aid his Ballon d'Or campaign by sharing the creative burden.
Karim Adeyemi’s goal was voted the best of the match, reinforcing the attacking firepower at the disposal of manager Hansi Flick, though defensive frailties remain a concern. Barcelona have now amassed 19 goals in four games, a tally that suggests they can outscore most opponents even if they concede. 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 added a second, while Jude Bellingham also found the net.
The spotlight, however, fell on youngster Yan Diomande, who made his first start. Manager José Mourinho praised Diomande’s potential but noted his tactical development is still underway.
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 – underscoring his impact despite limited minutes. The £120 million signing of Diomande raises questions about squad balance, as Mourinho appears to favor a more defensive midfielder to complement Rodri’s efforts in stabilising the side.
Valencia’s recent defeat to Sevilla led to the dismissal of Carlos Corberán, a harsh decision given his prior achievements but reflective of the club’s disastrous start. Owner Peter Lim’s impatience is evident, especially with the looming inauguration of the new 70,000‑seat Nou Mestalla stadium, which the club hopes will usher in a new era. Meanwhile, in Galicia, Deportivo A Coruña are enjoying a renaissance thanks to veteran striker Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored in each of the first five league games, chasing the all‑time LaLiga record of seven consecutive scoring appearances.
LaLiga’s round of 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 rallied from a 0‑2 deficit at halftime 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 dividends as summer signing Diego Moreira scored both Milan goals. Amorim admitted the performance was insufficient for a win, emphasizing the need for consistency across both halves of a match.
The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was charged, with many Lazio supporters protesting against club president Claudio Lotito, while coach Gennaro Gattuso likened the hostile environment to playing during the pandemic. Juventus saw their unbeaten Serie A run snapped when Sassuolo’s 20‑year‑old Montenegrin loanee Vasilije Adžić scored a 94th‑minute winner after Juventus had equalised in stoppage time. The weekend also featured a remarkable display from teenage Franco Mastantuono, who netted a hat‑trick for Fiorentina in a 4‑2 victory at Venezia, offering 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 recorded their first Ligue 1 win of the season, with Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal at Brest. The match was notable for manager Luis Enrique wearing a ‘King Eric’ shirt in tribute to former Brest coach Eric Roy, who passed away in June. Lille climbed to the top of the table thanks to a goal from Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian, while manager Davide Ancelotti has navigated a challenging start after losing several star players in the summer window.
Lille remain one of five unbeaten sides. Rennes continued their unbeaten run by beating Marseille for a third straight time, while Monaco salvaged a point against Strasbourg thanks to a spectacular strike from Paris Brunner, a player many consider a future star. Cameron Archer, on loan from Southampton, impressed for Auxerre, scoring the winner against Nice and earning praise from his former boss Will Still, who highlighted Archer’s intelligent movement and finishing. 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 previously achieved only by Johan Cruyff. Ajax defeated Fortuna Sittard 5‑1, while Feyenoord’s seven‑goal haul at PEC Zwolle and PSV’s 4‑1 win over Sparta Rotterdam were also highlights. PSV’s victory propelled them back to the top of the table after AZ Alkmaar faltered against Willem II. Portugal saw Sporting lose points in stoppage time at Famalicão despite the visitors being reduced to ten men, while both Porto and Benfica turned deficits into wins, setting the stage for an exciting O Clássico next weekend.
Overall, this week’s matches delivered a blend of individual brilliance, managerial intrigue, and surprising turnarounds across Europe’s top leagues, reinforcing why the continent’s football remains the most compelling spectacle on the planet.