Le Real Madrid, eager to close the’ gap with FC Barcelona in the standings, had a frustrating evening in San Mames, marked by two contentious decisions concerning penalties. If these choices had been different, the match could have tipped in favor of Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Despite their ambition to leave with three essential points in the fight for the title, the Madrilenians did not succeed in taking over a determined Athletic Bilbao, which dominated the debates. Difficult to create opportunities, Real, led in attack by Kylian Mbappe, did not worry the solid defense of the Basques. Conversely, the locals were more enterprising and ended up winning 2-1, taking advantage of the mistakes of Thibaut Courtois and Fede Valverde.
Carlo Ancelotti and Kylian Mbappé spoke about his missed penalty following Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Athletic Club.
Mbappé said he takes “full responsibility” for it.
Two penalties not granted, Real Madrid denounces an injustice
The first controversy arose when’an action involving Kylian Mbappe aroused the’ indignation of the Madrilenians. The French’ striker, surrounded by two defenders of the’Athletic Bilbao, was unbalanced and’ collapsed to the ground, claiming a penalty. However, the’rater, Sanchez Martinez, n’ did not interpret the’ incident in the same way. He invited Mbappe to stand up, judging that’il n’y had no sufficient contact to justify a penalty. Despite images that seemed to plead in favor of Real Madrid, the decision not to whistle provoked the anger of players and supporters, convinced that’ a foul deserved a firmer sanction.
Moments later, a new controversy erupted. During a counter-attack, Rodrygo was shaken by Gorosabel, triggering an intervention by the VAR. The’rater was then invited to review the’action on the screens, but despite several seconds of’ analysis, Sanchez Martinez maintained his initial judgment, believing that contact was not important enough to justify a penalty. This second refusal intensified the frustration of the Madrid players, convinced that two crucial opportunities had been ignored at the expense of their team.
Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés was marred by controversy, with two contentious penalty decisions playing a pivotal role in the outcome. Carlo Ancelotti’s men, desperate to close the gap on La Liga leaders FC Barcelona, were left frustrated by the referee’s decisions, which they believe significantly impacted the match.
### The Penalty Controversies:
1. **Kylian Mbappé Incident**
In the first half, Kylian Mbappé was surrounded and appeared to be unbalanced by two Athletic Bilbao defenders, leading him to fall in the penalty area. Despite strong protests from the Real Madrid players and supporters, referee Sánchez Martínez ruled there was insufficient contact for a penalty. Replays suggested potential grounds for a foul, further fueling Madrid’s frustration.
2. **Rodrygo’s VAR Review**
Later, during a counterattack, Rodrygo was brought down by Athletic’s defender Gorosabel. The VAR intervened, prompting the referee to review the incident. After a lengthy analysis, Sánchez Martínez stood by his initial decision, ruling the contact as minimal and not warranting a penalty. This second decision exacerbated the anger of the Real Madrid players and their fans, who felt they were unfairly denied a chance to level the game.
### Real Madrid’s Performance:
While the penalty decisions became the focal point, Real Madrid struggled to assert themselves offensively. Despite fielding an attack spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé, they failed to significantly threaten Athletic’s solid defense. Errors from Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde handed the Basque side crucial opportunities, with Athletic capitalizing to secure the win.
### Post-Match Reactions:
– **Kylian Mbappé:**
The French striker addressed his missed penalty during the match, taking full responsibility and acknowledging its impact on the game. His comments reflect his accountability and determination to move past the setback.
– **Carlo Ancelotti:**
The Real Madrid coach expressed his frustration with the officiating, highlighting the two denied penalties as turning points. However, he also acknowledged his team’s need to improve their performance in high-pressure situations.
### A Blow in the Title Race:
The defeat leaves Real Madrid trailing further behind Barcelona in the standings, intensifying the pressure on Ancelotti’s squad. While the controversial officiating decisions will dominate headlines, the team’s inability to create clear chances and defensive lapses underline deeper challenges.
As Real Madrid look ahead, they must address both their tactical vulnerabilities and their finishing to remain competitive in the title race. Meanwhile, the refereeing decisions are likely to spark renewed debates about the use and consistency of VAR in La Liga.
