Kylian Mbappe missed his second penalty in a week as LaLiga champions Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, marking their fourth loss in seven matches across all competitions. Athletic dominated the first half, pressing relentlessly against a disjointed Real Madrid side that struggled to create chances and failed to register a single shot on target before halftime.
Alejandro Berenguer Remiro put Athletic Club ahead in the 53rd minute. Kylian Mbappé had a prime opportunity to equalize from the penalty spot in the 68th minute but missed, replicating his misstep from the previous week’s Champions League clash against Liverpool. Despite the miss, Mbappé contributed to Real Madrid’s equalizer when his attempt deflected into Jude Bellingham’s path, allowing the midfielder to find the back of the net.
As Real Madrid pushed forward in pursuit of a decisive goal, they were dealt another setback. Gorka Guruzeta struck just two minutes later to restore Athletic Club’s lead, ultimately securing the winner in a thrilling encounter.
“It was a difficult game, it was close, very competitive and hard-fought. When we got the equaliser, we could have focused on controlling the game but fine details have cost us. We missed the penalty, but I can’t be assessing the game on that basis because you might score, or not. Mbappe is upset, he’s disappointed but we have to keep going.” Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said after the game.
“We have to give him [Mbappe] time to adapt. He’s scored 10 goals already and he’s doing all he can to improve,” he added.
📸 – KYLIAN MBAPPE HAS MISSED ANOTHER PENALTY FOR REAL MADRID! pic.twitter.com/4rDimdoQ7E
— TheEuropeanLad (@TheEuropeanLad) December 4, 2024
Despite the loss, Real Madrid remain in second place in the league standings with 32 points from 15 matches, holding a one-point advantage over third-placed Atletico Madrid. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men now trail Barcelona by four points, though they have a game in hand. Los Blancos will aim to bounce back when they face Girona away on Saturday, December 7.
Kylian Mbappe delivered another lackluster performance, missing two of his five penalty attempts for Real Madrid this season, making him the La Liga player with the most missed spot-kicks. Expected to elevate a star-studded Real Madrid squad fresh off last season’s La Liga and Champions League triumphs, Mbappe has struggled to meet expectations, often appearing hesitant and disconnected from his teammates. While he has netted 10 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions, only seven have come from open play.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
