Real Madrid's Defeat Against Athletic Club
Federico Valverde has expressed deep regret over his costly error in Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Athletic Club in La Liga, acknowledging the impact of his mistake on the match. The 26-year-old midfielder, known for his consistency, allowed Gorka Guruzeta a clear chance to score, which proved decisive for the home side.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Valverde took full responsibility, apologizing to his teammates and fans. “Today has been a hard hit, but I take the blame, turn the face and apologize,” he wrote. “I know it’s football, and things can happen, but they’re not strangers to me.” Despite the setback, he remained optimistic, expressing confidence in future successes for the team.
Though disappointed with the result, Manager Carlo Ancelotti urged Valverde to move past the incident and focus on the challenges ahead. Ancelotti emphasized that setbacks like these are part of football, reinforcing the need to stay mentally strong.
The match saw Jude Bellingham’s fourth consecutive goal in as many games, but it wasn’t enough to secure a point for Madrid. Bellingham’s equalizer in the 78th minute followed a save from Athletic’s goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Still, the home side quickly regained the lead after Valverde’s mistake, with Guruzeta calmly finishing past Thibaut Courtois.
Earlier, Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty, which compounded Madrid’s frustration. Ancelotti defended the French forward’s performance, noting that missing penalties is part of the game and that Mbappe is still adjusting to his new environment at the club.
Athletic Club took the lead in the second half with a well-executed finish from Alex Berenguer, following a brilliant assist from Nico Williams, despite Madrid’s late pressure, including a near miss from Mbappe, the hosts held on to secure their first league victory over Real Madrid since 2015.
With this loss, Real Madrid remains four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, while Athletic Club moves up to fourth place, just three points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid.
