Athletic Club emerged victorious against Real Madrid with a 2-1 win, showcasing a strong performance that highlighted their recent unbeaten run. Alex Berenguer opened the scoring early in the second half with a goal that came off a deflection, placing Athletic ahead 1-0.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé faced another setback as he failed to convert a penalty for the second time in a week. After defender Antonio Rudiger was fouled, Mbappé had the opportunity to equalize in the 68th minute, but his shot was weak and easily saved by Athletic’s Julen Agirrezabala. This unfortunate miss followed his previous penalty failure during a Champions League match against Liverpool.
Despite leveling the game in the 78th minute with a goal from Jude Bellingham, who capitalized on a rebound, Madrid’s joy was short-lived. Just a minute later, Gorka Guruzeta took advantage of a mistake by Federico Valverde, scoring the winning goal for Athletic and securing the three points for his team.
This defeat marks Real Madrid’s fourth in their last seven matches across all competitions, raising concerns about their form. Currently, they trail leaders Barcelona by four points, although they have a game in hand. Athletic Club sits comfortably in fourth place with 29 points.
Mbappé’s performance has drawn scrutiny as he has missed two of his five penalties since joining Madrid, making him the player with the highest missed penalties in LaLiga this season. Although he has netted ten goals in 21 matches, only seven of which were from open play, his contribution in the match against Athletic was minimal until late in the game.
In a twist of fate, this match revealed potential areas for improvement for Real Madrid. Although the defeat is disappointing, it also presents a chance for the team to regroup and refocus. The challenges Mbappé is facing could motivate him to reclaim his form and re-establish himself as a key player in the squad.
As the season progresses, Real Madrid has an opportunity to leverage their talent and experience, aiming to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures and regain momentum in the league. Fans will be hoping for a turnaround as they look forward to future matches.