Welcome to the Euro Recap, a fresh Sky Sports feature where Adam Bate gathers the most compelling narratives from this week’s continental fixtures. Below is a detailed rundown of the highlights across Europe, rephrased and expanded for clarity and depth.
Raphinha continues to make a compelling case for the Ballon d'Or, even though his teammate Lamine Yamal is also being touted for the award. After netting a hat-trick earlier in the week, Raphinha added another three‑goal haul in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Sevilla. The trio of goals was a textbook perfect hat-trick: a right‑footed strike, a powerful header, and a left‑footed finish.
At 29, the Brazilian appears to have finally settled into his optimal role, showcasing a versatile scoring repertoire that proves he can thrive in any attacking position. In LaLiga, Barcelona are riding an unstoppable wave, sitting five points clear of the second‑placed side and six ahead of Real Madrid after José Mourinho’s Atletico side snatched a derby win on Sunday. Mourinho, known for his outspoken nature, turned his attention to the officiating after a 2-1 defeat.
He accused referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias of succumbing to pressure, even displaying printed evidence during the post‑match press conference. Mourinho highlighted two controversial red cards, suggesting that Atletico defender Cristian Romero deserved a harsher sanction for his challenge on Jude Bellingham, although the replay footage appeared less dramatic than the still images he presented. Mourinho also criticized the referee appointment committee, noting that the 41‑year‑old official had never served as an international referee, implying that the selection was not based on merit. While Mourinho’s conspiratorial remarks are typical of his style, they cannot obscure the widening gap between Barcelona and the rest of the league.
Barcelona have shown resilience against top‑flight opposition, a quality that Real Madrid have struggled to replicate when faced with elite teams. Other LaLiga action saw Celta Vigo dominate Racing Santander with a five‑goal blitz, while Valencia continue to search for stability after dismissing manager Carlos Corberán. The weekend concluded with a dramatic stoppage‑time strike by Ander Barrenetxea for Real Sociedad, which stunned Valencia at the Mestalla. Full round‑up of LaLiga scores includes: Espanyol 1-3 Elche, Osasuna 1-1 Rayo Vallecano, Athletic Club 0-0 Alavés, Celta Vigo 5-0 Racing Santander, Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona, Getafe 1-0 Málaga, Atlético Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruña 1-1 Real Betis, Villarreal 3-1 Levante, Valencia 2-3 Real Sociedad.
In the Bundesliga, Harry Kane celebrated a personal milestone as Bayern Munich demolished Union Berlin 7-0. The England captain reached 100 Bundesliga goals in just his 98th appearance, an unprecedented rate. Yet the standout performer was Michael Olise, who contributed three goals and assisted Kane’s second strike, underscoring his growing influence at Bayern and hinting that he could be a serious contender for individual accolades alongside Kane. Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach suffered a 3-4 loss in a high‑scoring encounter with Mainz, Augsburg fell for the first time at Werder Bremen, and Freiburg’s unbeaten run at Eintracht Frankfurt ended.
Borussia Dortmund remain the sole unbeaten side in the league, with Maxi Biller scoring the decisive goal against Stuttgart and Jobe Bellingham providing the assist. Dortmund coach Niko Kovač received heartbreaking news after the match when he learned of the death of Peter Hermann, his former Bayern assistant, a moment that brought the football community together in shared sorrow.
Dortmund have now won six consecutive matches across all competitions and boast more clean sheets than Bayern since the summer of 2025, indicating a solid defensive foundation that could see them challenge for the title if they maintain this form. In Serie A, Inter Milan displayed their resilience by clawing back from a two‑goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Roma, preserving their unbeaten streak. Lautaro Martínez scored a brace for Roma, preventing the hosts from securing all three points.
The Italian title race appears wide open, with four clubs still unbeaten. AC Milan, under the guidance of former Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim, adapted their tactical setup after a European setback. Switching to a back four against Lecce, they secured a 3-0 victory.
The adjustment saw Mario Gila shift to right‑back, granting Samuel Chukwueze greater attacking liberty. Amorim acknowledged the need to avoid past mistakes, drawing parallels with his experiences at United and emphasizing the importance of flexibility when the ideal player profile is unavailable. Other Serie A notes include Billy Gilmour scoring for Napoli and Harry Winks, who endured consecutive relegations with Leicester, now featuring regularly for Cagliari, helping them achieve four wins from five matches.
Ligue 1 saw Paris Saint‑Germain finally break PSG’s home‑winning streak by defeating Marseille 2-1 at the Stade Vélodrome, with Marquinhos netting the winner. Marseille, suffering four defeats in five games, endure their poorest start in recent history, while PSG missed seven clear chances, highlighting a lingering inefficiency despite a third straight victory. In Paris, Ligue 2 side Paris FC, coached by Englishman Liam Rosenior, celebrated a 2-1 win over Strasbourg, a former club of Rosenior.
He criticised a minority of supporters for disrespectful behaviour towards his family, framing his celebration as a deliberate message. Rosenior’s side remain unbeaten and boast the best defensive record in France, both in actual goals conceded and expected goals. Monaco leads the league heading into the winter break, while Nice recorded their first win of the campaign against Lille. Turning to the Turkish Super Lig, Mohamed Salah delivered a sensational hat‑trick for Trabzonspor in a 4-0 demolition of Galatasaray, also providing an assist.
His pace and incisive runs from deep resulted in the opening and closing goals, while a defensive lapse by Davinson Sánchez set up his second. Salah now tallies seven goals in six league fixtures. The league leaders are newly promoted Amedspor, a club with strong Kurdish roots, propelled by Gift Orban’s long‑range strike in a 3-2 victory over Beşiktaş. In Portugal, Porto triumphed 3-1 over Benfica at the Estádio do Dragão, with Marco Silva’s Benfica showing promise before Clement Lenglet was sent off.
Porto’s win marks their seventh consecutive victory, extending their lead at the top of the Primeira Liga. Overall, this week across Europe has been marked by individual brilliance, tactical tweaks, and the occasional controversy, providing plenty of storylines for fans to dissect as the season progresses.