Kylian Mbappe's poor start to his Real Madrid career added another chapter as the French superstar missed his second straight penalty in Madrid's 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao.
With Barcelona beating Mallorca 5-1 the day before, Los Blancos needed a win to keep pace with their Catalan rivals.
The clash against Athletic Bilbao looked a tough one to begin with, especially at the San Mamés. It proved to be just that as the home team were all over Real Madrid in the opening minutes albeit without creating threatening Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid managed to withstand the pressure from Athletic Bilbao and were able to somewhat tilt things to their favor with a couple of penalty shouts in the process.
However, Athletic Bilbao broke through in the second half after Iñaki Williams sent in a cross that confused the Madrid defense. They made no efforts to clear it and it reached Courtois who parried it away only to fall to Alejandro Berenguer who put his team up one.
Madrid had a chance to equalize midway through the second half after Julen Agirrezabala hit Antonio Rudiger in an attempt to clear a free-kick. Mbappe, having missed a penalty a week before in the Champions League against Liverpool, stepped up to take it. In almost a carbon copy of his penalty the week before, his penalty was saved.
The high of the penalty save was short lived as Mbappe tried to rifle in a shot from the left.
Agirrezabala saved it but the rebound fell to Jude Bellingham who equalized in the 78th minute.
But it wouldn't be tied for long.
Looking the better side after equalizing, Madrid looked like they smelled blood and it was inevitable they'd get a second. But in the 80th minute, Federico Valverde lost the ball in his own half to Gorka Guruzeta who was through on goal and slotted past Courtois to put Athletic Bilbao up again, much to the delight of the raucous crowd.
Carlo Ancelotti brought on Arda Guler and Endrick to try to find a second to no avail. Real Madrid lost 2-1 and fell to four points behind Barcelona.
It was another performance against a strong opponent where they were left wanting. They ceded too much of the possession and it cost them in the end. Then it was their own errors that did them in almost immediately after equalizing. Bellingham's reaction after Athletic Bilbao's second told the whole story.
While the focus is going to be on Mbappe for the penalty miss, the struggles that have plagued Madrid in important matches continues with Ancelotti unable to find answers. He better find some answers quick as their next match is against Girona who, while not at the same pace as last season, are going to try add to the Merengue misery.