Real Madrid vs Athletic Club player ratings: Mbappe flops again, Strong Madrid lose more points 2024

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club player ratings, Real Madrid endured a difficult night at San Mames, falling 2-1 to Athletic Club in a match riddled with missed opportunities and defensive lapses. Kylian Mbappe, once again, squandered a crucial penalty, while Jude Bellingham shone with a late equalizer, only for a late defensive error to seal the fate of Los Blancos.

This loss keeps Real Madrid trailing in the La Liga title race, with Barcelona maintaining their lead atop the table. Here’s a breakdown of the game, including player ratings, key moments, and a discussion of what went wrong for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club player ratings: Kylian Mbappe Misses Penalty Again as Jude Bellingham Scores in Frustrating Defeat

Key Moments of the Match

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club player ratings, Real Madrid started on the back foot, with Athletic Club enjoying an energetic opening spell. Despite creating few clear chances early on, the Madrid defense, led by Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger, held firm to keep the scores level.

In the second half, however, the game unraveled.

Athletic Club’s First Goal (48′)
Thibaut Courtois misjudged a cross, parrying it into the path of Alex Berenguer, who slotted home to give the hosts the lead.
Mbappe’s Penalty Miss (63′)
Antonio Rudiger earned Real Madrid a penalty, but Kylian Mbappe’s lack of confidence from the spot was evident. His tame effort was saved by Athletic’s second-choice goalkeeper, Julen Agirrezabala.
Bellingham’s Equalizer (78′)
Jude Bellingham, Madrid’s standout performer, latched onto a loose ball in the box to bring his side level, igniting hopes of a Madrid comeback.
Athletic’s Winning Goal (81′)
A costly mistake by Federico Valverde saw Gorka Guruzeta pounce and score, leaving Madrid no time to recover.

Real Madrid Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defense

Thibaut Courtois (5/10): Made a few decent saves but was directly responsible for Athletic’s first goal due to poor handling.
Lucas Vazquez (6/10): Decent defensively but failed to deliver quality in the final third.
Raul Asencio (6/10): Impressive in moments, but his lack of pace was exposed for Athletic’s winner.
Antonio Rudiger (7/10): Won the penalty for Madrid and was otherwise solid at the back.
Fran Garcia (7/10): Showed strong defensive instincts and was unlucky to be substituted.

Midfield

Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10): Provided some stability but was guilty of sloppy passing.
Federico Valverde (5/10): A rare off-night for the Uruguayan, capped by his error leading to Athletic’s winning goal.
Dani Ceballos (5/10): Tidy in possession but lacked creativity in key areas.
Jude Bellingham (8/10): Madrid’s best player on the night. Scored the equalizer and showed immense work rate throughout.

Attack

Rodrygo (5/10): Struggled to make an impact and lacked understanding with Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe (3/10): Missed a crucial penalty and failed to deliver in a game of this magnitude.

Substitutes

Brahim Diaz (5/10): Energetic but failed to create meaningful chances.
Ferland Mendy (6/10): Solid defensively but offered little going forward.
Luka Modric (5/10): Lacked his usual composure under pressure.
Endrick (N/A): Too late to impact the game.
Arda Guler (N/A): No time to influence proceedings.

Tactical Analysis

Carlo Ancelotti’s approach was conservative, opting for his strongest lineup despite recent struggles. However, Real Madrid’s lack of cohesion in attack was evident. The absence of Vinicius Jr severely limited their ability to stretch the Athletic defense, leaving Mbappe isolated and frustrated.

The decision to persist with Mbappe on penalties is also under scrutiny. Two misses in consecutive games have raised questions about his confidence under pressure.

Defensive errors proved costly, with Courtois and Valverde’s lapses gifting Athletic both goals. Ancelotti’s substitutions, while late, provided some energy but lacked the tactical impact required to turn the game around.

Conclusion

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club player ratings, Real Madrid’s defeat at San Mames was a wake-up call. The lack of attacking fluidity and repeated defensive mistakes suggest deeper issues that Ancelotti must address quickly. With the title race heating up, Madrid can ill afford to drop points, especially against lower-ranked teams.

The pressure is mounting on Kylian Mbappe to deliver in key moments. While Jude Bellingham continues to shine, Madrid’s reliance on individual brilliance rather than cohesive team play is a concern.

Just a Chill guy watching Real Madrid’s Downfall in December pic.twitter.com/gLjZIcncYW

— Kay💧 (@Kaypoisson1) December 4, 2024

FAQs

1. Why did Real Madrid lose to Athletic Club?

Defensive errors and a lack of attacking sharpness were the primary reasons. Kylian Mbappe’s penalty miss and Courtois’ mistake compounded Madrid’s struggles.

2. What was Kylian Mbappe’s performance like?

Mbappe had a night to forget, missing a crucial penalty and failing to influence the game in open play.

3. Who was Real Madrid’s best player against Athletic Club?

Jude Bellingham was Madrid’s standout performer, scoring the equalizer and working tirelessly in midfield.

4. What does this result mean for the La Liga title race?

Real Madrid remain behind Barcelona in the standings, and this loss puts them under pressure to win their upcoming fixtures to stay in contention.

5. How can Madrid improve moving forward?

Madrid need to focus on defensive stability and better decision-making in the final third. Ancelotti may also need to rethink his penalty taker after Mbappe’s recent misses.

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