Kylian Mbappé’s tough start to life in La Liga continued as Real Madrid fell 2-1 to Athletic Club at San Mamés in a dramatic encounter.
The French forward missed a decisive penalty in the 70th minute, leaving Real Madrid unable to salvage a point in a crucial fixture.
The match began with Real Madrid dominating possession, but Athletic Club’s high-pressing style kept the visitors under constant pressure.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Oihan Sancet, who capitalized on a defensive error to fire past Andriy Lunin.
Real Madrid responded well, with Luka Modrić pulling the strings in midfield and creating chances for Rodrygo and Mbappé.
Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Eduardo Camavinga’s deflected shot found the back of the net, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second half saw Athletic Club regain their lead through Inaki Williams, who finished a swift counter-attack in the 60th minute. Real Madrid pushed forward in search of another equalizer and earned a penalty when Antonio Rüdiger was brought down in the box.
Mbappé, tasked with taking the spot-kick, saw his effort saved by Julen Agirrezabala, who dived to his right to deny the forward.
The miss marked Mbappé’s second penalty failure in a week, following a similar incident against Liverpool in the Champions League.
Despite Real Madrid’s relentless attacks in the closing stages, including chances from Brahim Díaz and Joselu, Athletic Club’s defense held firm, securing an impressive victory.
The defeat leaves Real Madrid four points behind league leaders Barcelona and adds to their recent struggles.
Mbappé, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, has faced criticism for inconsistent performances, although coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his star man. “He’s not at his best yet, but adaptation takes time. He’s working hard and will improve,” Ancelotti said post-match.
Athletic Club’s disciplined display earned them a well-deserved three points, moving them closer to the European spots in La Liga. Meanwhile, Real Madrid faces mounting pressure as they look to recover their form in a tightly contested title race.
