Shock in San Mamés! Madrid Stumble as Mbappé Misses a Decisive Penalty
Athletic Club strengthened its bid for the next Champions League by defeating Real Madrid 2-1 at San Mamés. Goals from Álex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta put the hosts ahead twice, while Jude Bellingham temporarily equalized. Kylian Mbappé had a night to forget, missing a crucial penalty saved by Julen Agirrezabala, who emerged as the standout player of the match.
The game rewarded Athletic's intensity and dominance, marking their fourth consecutive victory and solidifying their hold on fourth place in the league. Meanwhile, Real Madrid suffered a significant setback, falling four points behind leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand. Ernesto Valverde's unexpected lineup changes didn’t hinder the Basque side's strong performance, as they pressed hard from the outset.
The match began with Athletic on the front foot, creating several dangerous opportunities. VAR disallowed a Mbappé goal for offside, while the Williams brothers caused trouble for Madrid’s defense, with Berenguer also threatening from range. In the second half, Berenguer opened the scoring after a scramble in the box. Shortly after, Mbappé squandered a golden chance to level.
Mbappé’s missed penalty proved decisive. Following a header from Rüdiger that hit the crossbar, the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Agirrezabala, but the goalkeeper denied the Frenchman with a brilliant save. Minutes later, Bellingham equalized on a rebound, keeping Madrid’s hopes alive.
However, Athletic sealed the win through Guruzeta, who stole the ball from Valverde and finished expertly against Courtois. In the closing moments, Real Madrid pushed for an equalizer, but Mbappé missed another clear chance. With this result, Athletic continues its impressive run, while Madrid faces a concerning setback in the race for the league title.
