Kylian Mbappe has taken full responsibility for his penalty miss in Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. The French forward’s missed opportunity marked his second consecutive penalty failure, following a similar miss against Liverpool in the Champions League just a week earlier.
In a tightly contested match at San Mames, Alejandro Berenguer put Bilbao ahead early in the second half. Madrid managed to equalize through Jude Bellingham shortly after Mbappe’s missed penalty but failed to capitalize further. The game took a decisive turn in the 80th minute when Gorka Guruzeta, coming off the bench, scored the winner after a mistake by Fede Valverde.
Mbappe, facing mounting criticism, addressed the situation on Instagram, admitting his error and expressing determination to improve. “A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it,” Mbappe wrote. “A difficult moment but the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti supported Mbappe despite the miss, acknowledging the striker’s struggles to find consistency since joining from Paris Saint-Germain. “Obviously, he’s sad, disappointed, but he has to continue,” said Ancelotti. “He’s not at his best level, but we have to give him time to adapt. He’s scored 10 goals, and he’s working to do better.”
The loss halted Madrid’s three-game winning streak in La Liga and allowed Barcelona to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the table. Despite missing key players like Vinicius Junior, Madrid hoped to build momentum but fell short against an energized Athletic Bilbao side.
Mbappe had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half, while referee decisions denied Madrid a penalty claim when Rodrygo went down in the box. Bilbao capitalized on their chances, with Berenguer recovering from an earlier miss to score and Guruzeta sealing the win late in the game.
The pressure continues to mount on Mbappe as Madrid push to stay competitive in La Liga. With the French star pledging to improve and Ancelotti’s faith unwavering, the coming weeks will be crucial for both the player and the team.
