Kylian Mbappé’s challenging adaptation to life in La Liga continued as Real Madrid fell 2-1 to Athletic Club at San Mamés.
The French star missed a crucial penalty and struggled to assert his influence in a match where Real suffered their second league defeat of the season.
The turning point came in the 70th minute when Mbappé had a golden opportunity to equalize after Antonio Rüdiger was fouled in the box.
Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala guessed correctly, denying Mbappé a chance to level the scores—a stark déjà vu following his penalty miss against Liverpool in the Champions League last week.
Carlo Ancelotti defended his star forward after the game, stating, “He’s not at his best level yet, but adaptation takes time. He’s scored 10 goals and is working hard to improve.”
Mbappé, deployed in a central role due to Vinícius Júnior’s absence, often drifted wide, leaving Real’s attack disjointed.
While his speed and moments of flair were evident, consistency remains elusive since his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid’s defeat leaves them four points behind leaders Barcelona.
