Welcome to The Euro Debrief, a new Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate rounds up some of the key stories from the latest matches across the continent. This week: Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player It was a big weekend for Barcelona as they capitalised on Real Madrid's slip up at Real Betis to move clear at the top of LaLiga. The five-goal thrashing of Valencia featured some standout performers with Pedro applauded off by the home fans at Mestalla.
But Lamine Yamal was sensational, getting two goals and creating more chances than anyone else on the pitch. Fermin Lopez also scored one, assisted by Anthony Gordon, and set up two. Valencia, who brought on Harvey Elliott for his debut, had no answer.
Jose Mourinho's Madrid are going to have to be very good indeed to keep pace with this Barcelona and cannot afford too many evenings like the one they had in Sevilla. Kylian Mbappe's poor penalty in stoppage time meant they returned to the capital pointless. Madrid were wasteful throughout, squandering five big chances in the first half alone and were punished by Troy Parrott.
The Irishman fired in on the rebound on his home debut, having once been given his Premier League debut for Tottenham by Mourinho of all people. How can you not be thrilled for Parrott? The sight of him wide-eyed and emotional taking in the joy of the Betis fans at the final whistle at La Cartuja was a reminder of the journey he has been on.
One recalls speaking to him when he first went to AZ Alkmaar. "It is just about experiencing new things," he told Sky Sports in that interview. "There are not many people that do it.
So, to try something new, it is exciting for me. It is a short life that we have. And I am not even just talking football now." His amazing adventure continues.
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