Kylian Mbappé apologized for missing a penalty kick during Real Madrid’s recent 2-1 defeat against Athletic Bilbao, acknowledging the weight of his responsibility in this challenging moment for the team. The loss further widened the gap between Madrid and their rivals, Barcelona, in the Spanish league standings.
In the 68th minute, Athletic’s goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala saved Mbappé’s penalty attempt, a pivotal moment that shifted the momentum of the match. Shortly after, Federico Valverde’s defensive error allowed Gorka Guruzeta to score the decisive goal in the 80th minute, sealing Madrid’s fate.
“Bad result,” Mbappé expressed on Instagram. “A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it. A difficult moment, but it’s the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”
Mbappé aimed his penalty shot to the right, but Agirrezabala anticipated the direction and made a crucial save. The Athletic goalkeeper later remarked, “We knew he is a good penalty taker. He missed the last one, and I believed he would choose the same side, and luckily that’s what happened.”
Earlier in the match, Mbappé had a goal disallowed for offside in the 13th minute and had also missed a penalty in the previous week’s Champions League loss to Liverpool. While he did score in a recent league match against Getafe, the pressure continues to mount as he navigates his first season with the Spanish giants.
Despite the setbacks, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended Mbappé, stating, “I won’t evaluate the performance of a player because of a missed penalty. Obviously, he is sad and disappointed, but you have to move on. He is not at his best level, but you have to give him time to adapt.” Ancelotti also addressed Valverde’s mistake, emphasizing that errors are part of the game.
Valverde’s misplay occurred when he lost possession while attempting to maneuver past two Athletic players instead of passing to a teammate, resulting in Guruzeta’s clear chance to score.
Athletic Bilbao took the lead in the 53rd minute with a goal from Álex Berenguer, while Jude Bellingham managed to equalize for Madrid in the 78th minute before the late heartbreak.
This defeat leaves Real Madrid four points behind Barcelona, who recently ended a three-match winless streak with a commanding 5-1 victory over Mallorca. Despite having a game in hand, Madrid’s recent form has been concerning, with five losses in their last eleven matches across all competitions.
With this victory, Athletic Bilbao ascended to fourth place, marking their fourth consecutive win in various competitions.
The scheduling of these matches was adjusted to accommodate both clubs’ participation in the upcoming Spanish Super Cup in January.
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