More penalty misery for Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrid lose to Athletic Bilbao

Kylian Mbappe suffered spot-kick despair again as Real Madrid lost ground in the LaLiga title race with a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

Real trailed to Alex Berenguer’s second-half close-range finish before Jude Bellingham scored for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time.

Federico Valverde was caught in possession two minutes later and Gorka Guruzeta finished in style to secure Bilbao’s first league win over Real since March 2015.

Mbappe will be cast in the role of villain again after failing to convert from the spot in a Champions League defeat at Liverpool last week.

He had handed over spot-kick duty on Sunday to Bellingham, who made no mistake against Getafe but was restored as Real’s penalty-taker in the 69th minute.

Antonio Rudiger was felled by Julen Agirrezabala from a free-kick but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by diving to his left and turning away Mbappe’s poor penalty.

Despite Bellingham’s red-hot goal touch, Real are now four points behind leaders Barcelona – 5-1 winners at Mallorca on Tuesday – albeit with a game in hand.

Bilbao pressed furiously in the opening exchanges and Thibaut Courtois reacted well to stop Nico Williams finding his brother Inaki in front of goal.

Rudiger also stuck out a foot to stop Inaki Williams profiting as Bilbao broke again, and the fever-pitched San Mames crowd were soon screaming for a penalty.

The ball struck the arm of Raul Asencio from Rudiger’s header, but the Real defender was looking in the opposite direction and referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez waved play on.

Mbappe had the ball in the home net moments later, but the France forward was in an offside position as Fran Garcia’s effort deflected into his path.

There was confusion as Sanchez Martinez was summoned to the VAR monitor to examine whether Rodrygo had been tripped by Andoni Gorosabel in the build-up.

Replays suggested Rodrygo had initiated contact between the two players and the referee ruled that it was not a penalty and restarted play with a Bilbao free-kick.

The best chance of a cagey first half came after 31 minutes. Mikel Jauregizar arrowed a pass into Inaki Williams and his lovely lay-off set up Berenguer, who fired over.

Bilbao appealed for another penalty as Nico Williams fell under Asencio’s challenge but Los Leones’ frustration turned to delight after 53 minutes.

Inaki Williams delivered a superb cross which Oihan Sancet almost got on the end of. Sancet’s run prevented Courtois from making a clean collection and Berenguer bundled the ball over the line.

Mbappe had the chance to level but his miskick rolled into the hands of Agirrezabala on what would prove an unfortunate night for the striker.

Fourth-place Bilbao move to within four points of Real after inflicting the champions’ second league defeat of the season.