At San Mamés, Athletic Club won a 2-1 thrilling La Liga match over Real Madrid. In the 53rd minute Alejandro Berenguer opened the score for Athletic; Jude Bellingham equalising for Real Madrid in the 78th minute. Still, Gorka Guruzeta won Athletic just two minutes later with a well-placed shot. Madrid lost their fourth loss in seven games despite leading possession and scoring more shots; Athletic kept their great form and raised them to fourth position in the standings.

Kylian Mbappé enduring ‘difficult moment’ as he misses another penalty kick and Madrid loses to Athletic

Kylian Mbappé admitted he is going through a difficult moment as he missed another penalty kick and Real Madrid lost ground to Barcelona in the Spanish league after a 2-1 loss at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

Mbappé had his penalty saved by Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala in the 68th minute, and later Federico Valverde gifted a late goal by losing possession on defense to allow an easy winner by Gorka Guruzeta in the 80th.

Mbappé sent the penalty shot to his right and Agirrezabala dived that way to make the stop.

Mbappé, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the 13th, had also missed a penalty in Madrid’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool in the Champions League last week. He didn’t take the one for the club in a Spanish league match on Sunday, but he scored in the 2-0 win over Getafe to ease some of the pressure on him and the club.

But it was another lackluster outing for the France star, who continues to struggle in his first season since finally joining the Spanish powerhouse.

Ancelotti also downplayed the bad play by Valverde, saying that mistakes can happen to anyone.

Valverde had control of the ball but gave it away while trying to get past a couple of Athletic players instead of passing it to a teammate, leaving Guruzeta with an easy run into the area for his goal.

Álex Berenguer had put the hosts ahead in the 53td and Jude Bellingham equalized for Madrid in the 78th.

The defeat left Madrid four points behind Barcelona, which on Tuesday ended a three-match winless streak in the league with a 5-1 rout at Mallorca. Madrid, which has a game in hand, had won three consecutive league games since a 4-0 loss at home in the “clasico” against Barcelona.

Madrid has lost five of its last 11 matches in all competitions.

Athletic moved to fourth place with the victory, its fourth consecutive across all competitions.

Both matches on Tuesday and Wednesday were moved forward in the schedule because the clubs will be playing in the Spanish Super Cup in January.

Copa del Rey

In the Copa del Rey, first-division clubs Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Real Betis all advanced over lower-division teams in the second round, but Villarreal lost 1-0 to fourth-division club Pontevedra and Girona fell on penalties to fourth-tier team Logrones.

(AP)