LaLiga: Real Madrid's Title Hopes Hit Snag

Real Madrid suffer their second La Liga defeat, as Athletic Bilbao secure a historic win. Kylian Mbappe struggles in his preferred central role.

Jude Bellingham's impressive goal-scoring streak continued, but it was not enough to prevent Real Madrid from suffering their second La Liga defeat of the season. The England midfielder scored his fourth goal in as many games, equalizing for Carlo Ancelotti's side in the 78th minute. Bellingham capitalized on a poor save from Julen Agirrezabala, reacting quickly to level the score.

However, Real Madrid's joy was short-lived, as Athletic Bilbao surged forward and caught the visitors off guard. A rare mistake from Federico Valverde allowed Gorka Guruzeta to break through on goal, and he calmly slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois to restore Bilbao's lead.

Prior to Bellingham's equalizer, Real Madrid had been awarded a penalty after Julen Agirrezabala fouled Antonio Rudiger. Kylian Mbappe stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was well saved by Agirrezabala. This was the second consecutive match in which Mbappe had failed to convert a penalty, having also been denied in last week's Champions League loss to Liverpool.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti defended Mbappe's performance, suggesting that the French forward is still adapting to his new surroundings. “He is not at his best level, but you have to give him time to adapt. He has scored 10 goals and is working to do better,” Ancelotti said, emphasizing the need for patience with Mbappe as he continues to settle into his new role.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to criticize Kylian Mbappe after the French forward missed a penalty in their match. When asked about Mbappe's performance, Ancelotti said, “I haven't spoken to him. It was a complicated match - even, competitive. When we equalised we could think of having control and small details penalised us tonight.”

Ancelotti was quick to defend Mbappe, emphasizing that a missed penalty should not define a player's entire game. He added, “We missed the penalty. I don't have to evaluate a player's game because of a penalty that is sometimes scored and sometimes missed. Obviously he is disappointed but we have to continue.”

Mbappe's recent performances have been a mixed bag. Despite struggling in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, he bounced back with his eighth league goal on Sunday. However, his display at the San Mames highlighted the ongoing challenges of integrating Mbappe into Real Madrid's system. There is still significant work to be done by the coaching staff to fully incorporate the French forward into the European champions' way of working.

In Vinicius Junior's absence, Kylian Mbappe was deployed in his less-favored central role, often drifting wide and leaving significant gaps in Real Madrid's attacking play. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, Mbappe has struggled to find consistency since his summer transfer from Paris St-Germain.

Athletic Bilbao took the lead in the 53rd minute, courtesy of Alex Berenguer's clinical finish from Nico Williams' exquisite cross. As the match drew to a close, Real Madrid intensified their pursuit of an equalizer, with Mbappe coming close on several occasions. However, Ernesto Valverde's side held firm, securing a hard-fought victory that sent the home crowd into raptures.

The defeat marks Real Madrid's second loss of the La Liga season, leaving them four points behind leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao's triumph – their first league win over Real since March 2015 – propels them within three points of third-placed Atletico Madrid, reigniting their hopes of securing a top-four finish.