Kylian Mbappe shouldered the blame for his costly penalty miss as Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Wednesday. The French forward admitted his mistake, calling it a “big error” in a tight match that allowed Barcelona to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the table.
“A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it,” Mbappe wrote on Instagram. “This is a tough moment, but it’s the best opportunity to turn things around and show who I am.”
This miss comes just a week after Mbappe failed to convert a penalty in Madrid’s Champions League clash against Liverpool. Despite scoring 10 goals in his first 20 appearances for Los Blancos, the former PSG star has faced criticism for inconsistency since his high-profile move.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged Mbappe’s disappointment but encouraged resilience. “He’s sad and disappointed, but he has to keep going,” said Ancelotti. “He’s not at his best yet, but he’s scored 10 goals and is working hard to improve.”
The loss puts additional pressure on both Kylian Mbappe and Madrid as they aim to regain their footing in the title race.
