Welcome to The Euro Debrief, the latest Sky Sports column where Adam Bate brings you a concise roundup of the most compelling storylines emerging from this week’s continental fixtures. Below is a detailed recap of the key moments, player performances and tactical shifts that have shaped the current landscape across Europe’s top leagues. Raphinha’s goal‑scoring spree continues unabated.
After netting a hat‑trick in the mid‑week fixture, the Brazilian winger added another three‑goal haul as Barcelona dispatched Sevilla 3‑1. The hat‑trick was textbook perfect – a right‑footed strike, a crisp header and a left‑footed finish – underscoring his versatility and reaffirming that he now occupies a central attacking role rather than a peripheral one. At 29, Raphinha appears to be hitting his prime later than expected, displaying a blend of pace, technical skill and finishing variety that makes him a constant threat from any position on the pitch.
In LaLiga, Barcelona sit atop the table in dominant fashion, enjoying a five‑point cushion over the second‑placed side and a six‑point lead on Real Madrid. This advantage grew after José Mourinho’s Atlético side edged out Madrid 2‑1 in the derby, a match that also highlighted Mourinho’s trademark post‑match complaints. The Portuguese manager launched a scathing critique of referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, accusing him of succumbing to pressure and even presenting printed evidence during the press conference. Mourinho alleged that two clear red‑card incidents were mishandled, pointing specifically to a challenge involving Cristian Romero and Jude Bellingham that, in his view, warranted a dismissal.
He further lambasted the referee‑appointment committee for assigning a 41‑year‑old official who has never officiated at the international level, insinuating that the decision was anything but merit‑based. Mourinho’s conspiratorial rhetoric is nothing new, yet it cannot conceal the widening gap between Atlético and Barcelona.
While the Catalans continue to amass points with ease, Real Madrid have struggled to impose themselves against top‑tier opposition, mirroring their recent difficulties against Betis. Elsewhere in Spain, Celta Vigo delivered a commanding performance, thrashing Racing Santander 5‑0, whereas Valencia remain mired in disappointment following the dismissal of Carlos Corberán. The weekend’s final LaLiga drama unfolded when Real Sociedad’s Ander Barrenetxea struck a late winner against Valencia, sealing a 3‑2 victory in stoppage time.
The full slate of LaLiga results was as follows: 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. Turning to the Bundesliga, Harry Kane celebrated a personal milestone as Bayern Munich routed Union Berlin 7‑0. The England captain notched his 100th Bundesliga goal – the quickest player ever to reach three figures – with the opening strike of the match, his 98th league appearance.
While Kane’s achievement drew headlines, the standout performer was Michael Olise, who recorded a hat‑trick and assisted Kane’s second goal, showcasing the creative flair that has made him a rising star in Germany. Olise’s contribution suggests he could be a serious contender for individual accolades alongside his teammate. The German league also delivered drama elsewhere. Borussia Mönchengladbach fell 3‑4 to Mainz in a high‑scoring affair, Augsburg suffered their first defeat at Werder Bremen, and Freiburg’s unbeaten run at Eintracht Frankfurt was snapped.
In contrast, Borussia Dortmund remain the only side yet to drop points, thanks to a 1‑0 away win over Stuttgart secured by Maxi Bieri, with substitute Jobe Bellingham providing the decisive assist. Dortmund’s coach Niko Kovač received heartbreaking news after the match when he learned of the passing of Peter Hermann, his former assistant at Bayern, prompting an emotional on‑air tribute. Despite the personal loss, Kovač’s Dortmund side has shown remarkable consistency, winning all six of their fixtures across all competitions and boasting more clean sheets than Bayern since the summer of 2025. If they maintain this defensive solidity, they could mount a serious challenge for the title.
The Bundesliga round‑up: Bayern Munich 7‑0 Union Berlin, Borussia Mönchengladbach 3‑4 Mainz, Eintracht Frankfurt 2‑2 Freiburg, Hamburg 2‑1 Cologne, Werder Bremen 3‑2 Augsburg, Stuttgart 0‑1 Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen 2‑0 RB Leipzig, Schalke 0‑0 Elversberg, Paderborn 3‑1 Hoffenheim. In Serie A, Inter Milan displayed resilience by clawing back from a two‑goal deficit to draw 2‑2 with Roma, preserving their unbeaten run. Lautaro Martínez’s brace for Roma prevented the hosts from securing all three points, highlighting the tightly contested nature of the Italian title race, where four clubs remain undefeated. AC Milan, under the guidance of newly appointed manager Rúben Amorim, demonstrated tactical flexibility after a European setback.
Amorim adjusted his formation, shifting to a back‑four that saw Mario Gila deployed as right‑back, granting Samuel Chukwueze greater attacking freedom. The change paid dividends as Milan thrashed Lecce 3‑0. Amorim admitted that his experience at Manchester United taught him the importance of avoiding repeated mistakes and adapting when the squad lacks the ideal attributes for a preferred system.
Other notable Serie A moments included Billy Gilmour’s goal for Napoli and Harry Winks’ resurgence at Cagliari, where the former Leicester midfielder has started every game and helped the club secure four wins in five matches. The complete Serie A results were: Monza 2‑1 Sassuolo, Bologna 1‑1 Torino, Udinese 0‑1 Cagliari, Roma 2‑2 Inter, Venezia 0‑2 Lazio, Fiorentina 1‑1 Napoli, Frosinone 2‑0 Como, Parma 2‑1 Genoa, Juventus 2‑0 Atalanta, Milan 3‑0 Lecce.
In Ligue 1, Paris Saint‑Germain finally broke Marseille’s home‑winning streak by winning 2‑1 at the Velodrome, with Marquinhos netting the decisive goal. Marseille have now suffered four defeats in five games, their worst start in recent history, while PSG, despite missing seven clear chances, recorded a third consecutive victory, suggesting a return to form. Meanwhile, Paris FC, managed by Englishman Liam Rosenior, secured a 2‑1 win over Strasbourg, a club Rosenior formerly coached.
After the match, Rosenior condemned a small faction of Strasbourg supporters for insulting his family, framing his celebration as a deliberate message. Rosenior’s side remains unbeaten and leads the French league in defensive metrics, both in goals conceded and expected goals against. However, AS Monaco sits atop the table at the halfway point, while Nice celebrated their first win of the campaign by beating Lille 2‑1.
Ligue 1 results: Monaco 2‑1 Lens, Paris FC 2‑1 Strasbourg, Angers 2‑0 Troyes, Le Mans 2‑1 Lorient, Lyon 4‑0 Rennes, Toulouse 3‑2 Le Havre, Auxerre 2‑1 Brest, Nice 2‑1 Lille, Marseille 1‑2 Paris Saint‑Germain. In the Turkish Super Lig, Mohamed Salah produced a masterclass for Trabzonspor, scoring a hat‑trick and providing an assist in a 4‑0 demolition of Galatasaray, handing the defending champions their first loss of the season.
Salah’s first and third goals came after a blistering run from his own half, while an error from Davinson Sánchez set up his second. The Egyptian forward now boasts seven goals in six league fixtures, underlining his lethal form.
The league leaders, however, are newly promoted Amedspor, a club with strong Kurdish roots that have generated significant buzz after Gift Orban’s long‑range strike secured a 3‑2 victory over Beşiktaş. In Portugal, Porto continued their flawless start, defeating Benfica 3‑1 at the Estádio do Dragão.
Despite a red card for Clement Lenglet, Porto’s dominance ensured they remain unbeaten with seven wins from seven games, holding a five‑point cushion at the summit under manager Francesco Farioli. Overall, this week’s matches have produced a blend of individual brilliance, managerial intrigue and shifting league dynamics that promise an exciting second half of the season across Europe.