Kylian Mbappé’s penalty struggles persisted as Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Wednesday.
Just a week after missing a crucial spot-kick in the Champions League against Liverpool, Mbappé faltered again from 12 yards, compounding a frustrating night for Los Blancos. The loss leaves league leaders Barcelona four points ahead after their dominant win against Mallorca.
Athletic Bilbao took the lead early in the second half through Alejandro Berenguer. Although Jude Bellingham equalized for Madrid following Mbappé’s penalty miss, a late strike from substitute Gorka Guruzeta, capitalizing on a Fede Valverde error, sealed the victory for the Basque side.
Mbappé, who has faced growing criticism recently, will face further scrutiny for his missed opportunity. The French forward stepped up to take the penalty after a foul on Antonio Rüdiger but saw his effort comfortably saved by Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala.
Despite missing several key players, including Vinícius Júnior, Madrid hoped to extend their three-match La Liga winning streak. However, Athletic’s high-energy performance at a packed San Mamés proved too much.
Mbappé’s involvement led to Bellingham’s equalizer as the Frenchman’s powerful strike was parried into the Englishman’s path for a composed finish. Yet Madrid’s joy was short-lived, as Guruzeta intercepted Valverde’s pass and slotted past Thibaut Courtois for the decisive goal.
The result leaves Real Madrid playing catch-up in the title race, while Bilbao strengthens their position in fourth, buoyed by an impressive team display.
