Real Madrid have lost for the second time in three games – defeat to Athletic Club leaves them four points behind Barcelona in La Liga with a game to go – but their problems are mounting.

Just like at Anfield in the Champions League against Liverpool, Madrid were defeated in Bilbao Athletic. And just like at Anfield, Kylian Mbappe failed to convert a penalty that would have given his side an equalizer.

Madrid dominated possession (63.4 percent versus Athletic’s 36.6 percent) and produced more shots (7:4) and shots on goal (5:3) than their opponents, but it wasn’t enough.

“It should have been a draw based on the performance of both teams,” Carlo Ancelotti told the press. “But I can’t say anything about the fact that they won.”

Alex Berenguer gave Athletic the lead with a close-range finish in the 53rd minute, before Jude Bellingham brought Madrid back into the game with his 78th-minute equalizer following a missed penalty from Mbappé. But a mistake by Federico Valverde allowed Gorka Guruzeta to score in the 80th minute and secure all three points for the hosts.

From San Mames, Mario Cortegana analyzes what went wrong for Madrid.

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Another night to forget for Mbappe

Mbappe once again failed to perform as expected, especially with Vinicius Junior out due to injury and the team needing the Frenchman more than ever.

The 25-year-old seemed excited about the game, posting an Instagram story this morning in which he wrote: “How nice to visit San Mames!” But Athletic’s impressive stadium seemed too big for the striker at the start of the game.

In the 11th minute he called for a penalty after tackling right-back Andoni Gorosabel, and in the 13th minute he saw another goal ruled offside. He had Madrid’s clearest chances, shooting straight into the hands of goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala in the 59th minute and saving his penalty in the 67th minute.

Mbappe aimed from the penalty spot to the goalkeeper’s left side – just as he did against Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher – and the result was the same. Bellingham, Raul Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger all went to him to encourage him afterwards.

…and did the same against Athletic (Premier Sports)

“I don’t have to judge a player’s game based on the penalty,” Ancelotti said. “He’s sad.”

It was his second missed penalty in five in Madrid. Equally, if not more, worrying was that Mbappe completed just two of his seven dribbles and regularly lost duels with Athletic’s talented centre-back Dani Vivian.

When a journalist said in Ancelotti’s press conference that Mbappe was playing just one percent of what he showed for Paris Saint-Germain and France, Ancelotti replied: “He is much more than one percent.”

“You have to give him time, he has scored ten goals, but of course he can do better and he is working on it,” added the Italian.

At least one of his shots from the edge of the penalty area resulted in Bellingham’s equalizer.

“Bad result,” Mbappe posted on his Instagram story. “A big mistake in a game where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for this. A difficult moment, but it is the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”

Ancelotti in the spotlight

Three straight wins in La Liga since Madrid’s 4-0 Clasico loss to Barcelona, ​​with nine goals scored and no conceded, suggested Ancelotti’s team was improving. That was completely erased by Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic team.

Ancelotti still doesn’t find solutions. Madrid have suffered five defeats in all competitions this season, compared to two last season.

“It’s stranger to have five defeats in a short period of time, we have to improve,” Ancelotti said. A locker room source, who wished to remain anonymous to protect relations, simply shared this The athlete“Complicated. Very bad game.”

The club is concerned about the team’s poor performance in important games. Madrid have been outplayed by Barca, Milan (a 3-1 defeat in the Champions League), Liverpool and Athletic, with a shock 1-0 loss to Lille in the Champions League and a 1-1 draw with city rivals Atlético.

Ancelotti still has credit, but his every decision is under scrutiny.

Last night he kept academy graduate Asencio in the squad. The 21-year-old centre-back was one of the few standout players for Madrid with six ball wins, seven saves, two interceptions and just one missed tackle, although he should have done better on Berenguer’s opener.

But Ancelotti also kept Lucas Vazquez at right-back (he had no other options) and Fran Garcia at left-back in place of Ferland Mendy. None of them produced a single cross, chance or dribble.

Aurelien Tchouameni returned from injury after 29 days as a regular midfielder but barely managed a successful tackle or recovery in his 70 minutes on the pitch before being replaced by Luka Modric.

President Florentino Perez may have been least impressed by the lack of opportunities for young players Arda Guler and Endrick, who only came on in the 87th minute. The Brazilian striker warmed up against Getafe but didn’t play at all.

Bellingham’s best still isn’t enough

Bellingham’s equalizer was one of the few positives for Madrid. The Englishman took advantage of Agirrezabala parrying Mbappe’s long-range shot to score at the same iconic stadium where he scored on his La Liga debut in 2023.

He celebrated while running and in anger by grabbing the crest on his shirt. Immediately afterwards, he made a brilliant recovery that almost ended in a Rodrygo goal.

Despite a surprising early season dry spell for a player who scored 23 goals in his debut season with Madrid, he has now scored four goals in his last four La Liga games. That matches his best performance in the competition and he could better that if he scores at the Montilivi Stadium in Girona on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was the first player to console Mbappe after his missed penalty and went straight to the fans after another disappointing night for Ancelotti’s La Liga holders. He could be seen blaming his teammates when they arrived late or didn’t get the ball at all.

Bellingham finished the game with four tackles won and no tackles for loss, one defensive block and two interceptions.

However, unlike last season, an inspired Bellingham doesn’t seem to be enough this season.

(Top photo: Diego Souto/Getty Images)