Sport
Mbappé’s Missed Penalty Costs Real Madrid a 2-1 Loss to Athletic Club
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé had a frustrating night on Tuesday, missing his second penalty in a week as Los Blancos suffered a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club.
This loss marks Madrid’s fourth in their last seven matches across all competitions, raising concerns about their current form.
Athletic Club took the lead in the 53rd minute, with Alex Berenguer scoring a well-taken goal to put the home side ahead.
Real Madrid was given a chance to equalize soon after when they were awarded a penalty, but Mbappé’s weak shot from the spot was easily saved by Athletic’s goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala.
This miss followed his earlier penalty failure earlier in the week, which left fans and analysts questioning his composure under pressure.
Madrid managed to draw level in the 78th minute when Jude Bellingham capitalized on a rebound to fire home, keeping hope alive for the visitors. However, the celebration was short-lived.
Just a minute later, an unfortunate mistake by Federico Valverde allowed the ball to break to Gorka Guruzeta, who slotted it past Real Madrid’s goalkeeper to give Athletic Club the winning goal.
The result was a blow for Madrid as they looked to close the gap on Barcelona, who currently lead the La Liga table with 37 points.
Real Madrid sits second with 33 points, though they have a game in hand.
The loss also allowed Athletic Club to strengthen their position in the top four, with 29 points, just behind the top teams.
Chiamaka Nnadozie has been shortlisted for the Best Goalkeeper award in the French Arkema Premier League.
The Paris FC star is up against PSG’s Mary Earps and Lyon’s Christiane Endler for the top spot.
So far this season, Nnadozie has racked up 10 clean sheets, while Endler has 13 and Earps has 8.
Last season, Nnadozie made history as the first African—and Nigerian—to win the prestigious award.
The 24-year-old also bagged the National Union of Professional Footballers’ Best Goalkeeper title for the 2023/24 season. She’s currently regarded as the best goalkeeper on the African continent.
Former Real Madrid star Luis Figo has come to the defense of current manager Carlo Ancelotti, calling him the most successful coach in the club’s history.
Figo’s comments came after Ancelotti faced criticism following Real Madrid’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League by Arsenal. The team was defeated 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, prompting questions about Ancelotti’s future at the club, even though his contract runs until the summer of 2026.
Speaking to Gazzetta, Figo expressed his surprise at the backlash, noting that people often forget the bigger picture after a single result. “I know this world has a short memory. It’s hard to see beyond the most recent game,” he said, emphasizing that this is especially true in Madrid.
Figo also found it odd that, after the defeat to Arsenal, discussions focused solely on Ancelotti’s future. “It seems absurd to me that his ability would be questioned,” he added. “In football, you can’t win all the time, and that’s true even for Real Madrid.”
Brazilian football icon Cafu has highlighted Rodrygo as the driving force behind Real Madrid’s attacking success, placing him above the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham in terms of influence on the team’s play.
In a recent chat with SPORT, Cafu emphasized how crucial Rodrygo has become, stating that the team struggles creatively when the 24-year-old isn’t at his best. He noted that when Rodrygo is on form, it positively affects other key players like Vinícius, Valverde, Mbappé, and Bellingham.
Cafu described Rodrygo as a central figure in the squad’s dynamics, someone who helps Real Madrid connect and move forward effectively on the pitch. With 13 goals and 10 assists so far this season, Rodrygo’s impact is clear.
Having joined Real Madrid from Santos in 2019, the Brazilian winger continues to grow into one of the most vital players in the team’s setup.
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