Real Madrid lost for the second time in three games — defeat to Athletic Club leaves them four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, with a game in hand, but the problems are mounting up.
Just as at Anfield in the Champions League against Liverpool, Madrid were inferior to Athletic in Bilbao. And, just as at Anfield, Kylian Mbappe failed to convert a penalty that would have earned his side an equaliser.
Madrid dominated possession (63.4 per cent to Athletic’s 36.6) and produced more shots (7-4) and shots on target (5-3) than their opponents, but it was not enough.
“It should have been a draw because of what both (teams) did,” Carlo Ancelotti told the press. “But I have nothing to say about the fact that they won.”
Alex Berenguer put Athletic in front with a finish from close range in the 53rd minute, before Jude Bellingham dragged Madrid back into the contest with his 78th-minute equaliser following Mbappe’s penalty miss. But a mistake from Federico Valverde then allowed Gorka Guruzeta to score in the 80th minute, securing all three points for the hosts.
From San Mames, Mario Cortegana analyses what went wrong for Madrid.
Another night to forget for Mbappe
Mbappe once again failed to reach the heights expected of him, especially with Vinicius Junior out through injury and the team needing the Frenchman more than ever.
The 25-year-old seemed excited for this game, posting an Instagram story that morning in which he wrote, “How nice to visit San Mames!”. But Athletic’s imposing stadium appeared too big for the striker when the game kicked off.
In the 11th minute he called for a penalty after grappling with right-back Andoni Gorosabel and in the 13th minute he saw another goal ruled offside. He had Madrid’s clearest chances, shooting straight into goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala’s hands in the 59th minute and seeing his penalty saved in the 67th minute.
Mbappe aimed his effort from the spot towards the keeper’s left — just like against Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher — and the result was the same. Bellingham, Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger all went over to give him encouragement afterwards.
…and did the same against Athletic (Premier Sports)
“I don’t have to evaluate a player’s game by the penalty,” Ancelotti said. “He is sad.”
It was his second missed penalty out of five at Madrid. Just as worrying, if not more so, was Mbappe only completing two of his seven dribbles and consistently losing duels with Athletic’s inspired centre-back Dani Vivian.
When a journalist said in Ancelotti’s press conference that Mbappe was playing at one per cent of what he had shown for Paris Saint-Germain and France, Ancelotti replied, “He is much more than one per cent”.
“You have to give him time, he has scored 10 goals but he can do better, of course, and he is working for it,” the Italian added.
At least one of his shots from the edge of the area ended in Bellingham’s equaliser.
“Bad result,” Mbappe posted on his Instagram story. “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.”
Ancelotti in the spotlight
Three wins in a row in La Liga since Madrid’s 4-0 Clasico humiliation against Barcelona, with nine goals scored and none conceded, suggested Ancelotti’s team were improving. That was completely erased by Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic side.
Ancelotti is still not finding solutions. Madrid have suffered five defeats this season in all competitions compared to two last season.
“It’s stranger to have five defeats in a short time, we have to improve,” Ancelotti said. A dressing-room source, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, simply told The Athletic, “Complicated. Very bad game.”
The club are concerned about the team’s poor performance in big games. Madrid have been outplayed against Barca, Milan (a 3-1 loss in the Champions League), Liverpool and Athletic, with a shock 1-0 defeat against Lille in the Champions League and a 1-1 draw against city rivals Atletico.
Ancelotti still has credit but his every decision is scrutinised.
Last night, he kept academy graduate Asencio in the line-up. The 21-year-old centre-back was one of the few outstanding players for Madrid with six recoveries, seven clearances, two interceptions and only one missed tackle, even if he should have done better for Berenguer’s opener.
But Ancelotti also kept Lucas Vazquez at right-back (he did not have any other options) and Fran Garcia instead of Ferland Mendy at left-back. Neither of them produced a single cross, chance or dribble.
Aurelien Tchouameni returned from injury after 29 days as a starter in midfield but barely made a successful tackle or recovery in 70 minutes on the pitch, before he was replaced by Luka Modric.
President Florentino Perez will have been least impressed with the lack of opportunities for youngsters Arda Guler and Endrick, who only came on in the 87th minute. Against Getafe, the Brazilian striker warmed up but did not feature at all.
Bellingham’s best still not enough
Bellingham’s equaliser was one of few positives for Madrid. The Englishman took advantage of Agirrezabala parrying Mbappe’s shot from distance to score at the same iconic stadium where he netted on his La Liga debut in 2023.
He celebrated on the run and in anger, grabbing the crest on his shirt. Immediately afterwards, he produced a brilliant recovery that almost ended in a goal from Rodrygo.
Despite a surprising drought at the start of the season for a player who scored 23 times in his debut season with Madrid, he now has four goals in his last four La Liga games. That equals his best run in the competition and he could beat it if he scores at Girona’s Montilivi stadium on Saturday.
The 21-year-old was the first player to console Mbappe after his missed penalty and went straight to the fans after another disappointing night for Ancelotti’s La Liga holders. He could be seen remonstrating with his team-mates when they arrived late to a ball or not at all.
Bellingham finished with four tackles won and none lost, a defensive block and two interceptions.
Unlike last season, however, an inspired Bellingham does not seem to be enough this campaign.
(Top photo: Diego Souto/Getty Images)
