Kylian Mbappé’s difficult adaptation to life in La Liga continued as Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club at San Mamés, marking their second league loss of the season. The French forward had a frustrating outing, missing a crucial penalty and struggling to make a significant impact on the game.
The defining moment of the match came in the 70th minute when Mbappé was presented with a golden opportunity to equalize. A foul on Antonio Rüdiger inside the penalty area awarded Real Madrid a spot-kick, and the pressure was on Mbappé to deliver. However, Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala guessed correctly and made a strong save, denying the Frenchman a chance to draw the sides level. The miss was reminiscent of his penalty failure against Liverpool in the Champions League just days earlier, highlighting a rare inconsistency from a player typically so reliable in front of goal.
Real Madrid had been trailing 1-0 before equalizing through a goal from Joselu, but Athletic regained the lead late in the match, securing all three points with a second goal. Mbappé, despite his efforts, was unable to influence the match in the way his talent suggested he could.
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s manager, offered support for his star player after the match, acknowledging that Mbappé is not yet performing at his best level but stressing that adaptation to a new league takes time. He’s not at his best level yet, but adaptation takes time, Ancelotti said. He’s scored 10 goals and is working hard to improve. The Italian coach’s comments reflected confidence in Mbappé’s abilities and emphasized the need for patience as the French forward settles into his new surroundings.
While it’s clear that Mbappé’s transition to La Liga has been challenging at times, the 10 goals he has scored so far this season show his potential. Real Madrid will be hoping that the forward’s growing experience in Spain will lead to even more influential performances as the season progresses.
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