Kylian Mbappe misses yet another penalty as woeful form for Real Madrid continues | Football News

For the second time in a week, Kylian Mbappe was put on the spot. And for the second time in a week, the French superstar came up short. After missing a penalty at Anfield in the Champions League against Liverpool, it was almost action replay on Wednesday in La Liga at Athletic Bilbao. The defending champions slumped to a 2-1 defeat their fourth loss in the last seven games in all competitions. It was Julen Agirrezabala diving to his left to save this at a comfortable right, just as Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher did it few nights ago. On both occasions, it would have been an equaliser for Real Madrid, and they went on to lose both matches.
It was another uninspired performance Mbappe who has missed two of his five penalties for Real Madrid in all competitions, making him the LaLiga player who has failed to convert most penalties this season. Mbappe arrived with sky-high expectations to boost a stellar Real Madrid squad who won last season’s LaLiga and Champions League titles, but so he has been a shadow of his old self, looking tentative and out of sync from the rest of the team. He has scored 10 goals in Real’s 21 games in all competitions, only seven from open play.

Mbappé’s penalty is saved Julen Agirrezabala! 😱#LALIGAHighlights | #AthleticRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/oSeUFtFPCS
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) December 4, 2024
Alex Berenguer scored for the hosts in the 53rd minute but Mbappe had a great chance to level from the spot after defender Antonio Rudiger was fouled 15 minutes later. However, the French forward stroked another weak shot that made it easy for Agirrezabala to palm the effort away. Real equalised in the 78th minute through Jude Bellingham but a bad make Federico Valverde gifted the ball to Gorka Guruzeta who struck the winner past Thibaut Courtois one minute later.
“He is at a lot more than just 1% (of his potential), but he’s not at his best,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told a press conference. “However, we have to give him time to adapt (to Real Madrid). He has scored 10 goals and is working hard to improve and to do better. “I haven’t spoken to him yet. It was a complicated, even, hard-fought, competitive game. We missed a penalty… I don’t evaluate a player’s game because of a missed penalty… sometimes you score and sometimes you miss. Obviously he’s sad, disappointed, but we have to keep going.”
(With Reuters inputs)