Mbappe misses another penalty as Real Madrid slump 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao

Kylian Mbappe missed his second penalty kick in a week, as Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, their fourth loss in seven games in all competitions.

Bilbao were the aggressors throughout the first half against a harried Real Madrid, who were short of ideas when in possession and toothless up front, going into the halftime break with no shots on target.

Unbeaten over the last two months, Bilbao finally managed to break the deadlock and take the lead on a close-range effort by Alex Berenguer in the 53rd minute, before Mbappe was handed a great chance to level from the spot after defender Antonio Ruediger was fouled 15 minutes later.

But the French forward, who missed a spot kick in Real's UEFA Champions League loss at Liverpool last week, stroked another weak shot that made it easy for Julen Agirrezabala to palm the effort away.

Still missing talisman Vinicius Jr. and other key players like Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga due to injuries, Madrid equalized in the 78th minute when Jude Bellingham fired home a rebound. But a costly mistake by Federico Valverde gifted the ball to Gorka Guruzeta, who struck the winner past a helpless Thibaut Courtois one minute later.

Real missed a chance to close the gap on leaders Barcelona, who top the standings with 37 points, four ahead of second-placed Madrid, who have a game in hand. Athletic Bilbao rank fourth with 29 points.

It was another uninspired performance by Mbappe, who has failed to convert two of his five penalties for Real Madrid in all competitions, leaving him as the La Liga player with the most missed spot kicks this season.

Mbappe arrived with sky-high expectations to boost a stellar Real Madrid squad that won last season's La Liga and Champions League titles, but so far he has been a shadow of his usual self, looking tentative and out-of-sync with the rest of the team.

He has scored 10 goals across 21 games in all competitions, but only seven from open play.

At Bilbao, he was a non-factor before firing an angled strike from the edge of the box late in the second half, which goalkeeper Agirrezabala palmed straight to Bellingham, who stroked home the rebound to equalize.

Rodrygo wasted a golden opportunity to give Real the lead on the next play, but Valverde's error that handed substitute Guruzeta the winner raised more questions about Madrid's form, with Mbappe firmly under the spotlight.