Who can save soldier Mbappé? This has been the question on everyone’s lips for several weeks now, in France and in Spain. In great difficulty on a personal and collective level, the former Paris Saint-Germain player was expected at the turning point this Sunday against Getafe, on the occasion of the 15th day of La Liga. Earlier in the week, against Liverpool in the Champions League, Kylian Mbappé probably had one of the worst matches of his entire rich and flamboyant career. With the absence of Vinícius Júnior, the Bondynois found the left wing, his favorite area. Unable to make a difference, the French international missed a penalty which would have allowed his team to equalize and his fall caused by Virgil van Dijk’s shoulder hit became a meme used on social networks. In particular, he finished the match with 15 lost balls, two attempted shots and defensive efforts that were still insufficient.
Already last weekend, against Leganès, Kylian Mbappé had wanted to return to this meeting which he considered successful overall, he who had found the net in the victory for his team (0-3). “ I think I had a good match. I’m starting to hang out with my teammates. I played in a different position from the last matches. But I can play all positions of the attack. Next time I might change positions again, but I’m ready to help the team and give my best. Anyway, playing right, left, center, that’s the story of my career and I don’t care. What I want is to play well, help the team and score a lot of goals », he declared on the microphone of Real Madrid TV. Back at the Santiago Bernabéu, the native of Bondy continued well in the league with a second successful offensive copy in La Liga. Enough to calm the burning fire launched since his terrible performance against the Reds.
A magnificent goal… but a few misses
Still in the absence of Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé started the match at the forefront of the attack alongside Rodrygo and Brahim Díaz. After a very poor start to the match marked by a choppy pace, Real Madrid managed to open the scoring with a penalty converted by… Jude Bellingham (30th). A penalty gate? Nay, according to Carlo Ancelotti. “ When Vinicius is there, the shooter decides between Mbappé and him. Without Vinicius on the pitch, those who had to choose were Mbappé and Bellingham, and they decided between themselves that Jude would pull him», indicated the Italian coach. We could thus have been worried to see the captain of the Blues so little involved in the discussion with his teammates to take the penalty, especially since he had a mixed start to the match with several duels lost on the side against Juan Iglesias (2nd ) and Domingos Duarte (26th), or even on both simultaneously as during this breakthrough at the half-hour mark (32nd). However, on a magnificent deep serve from Bellingham, Mbappé was able to control the ball to unleash a shot at the entrance to the surface with the flat of his foot, which hit the right post before entering the cage. Eighth goal of the season for the Frenchman and a celebration with a smile that made the whole Madrid den explode.
Image generation in progress
In the second half, he passed several times. Determined to definitively fold the match, Brahim Díaz launched Mbappé in depth who presented himself alone against Soria. The former PSG player cleared the goalkeeper perfectly, but crossed too much with his shot which ended outside the empty cage (75th). Bis repeated on the next action. On a magnificent opening from Modríc, the Frenchman presented himself again alone against Soria but came up against the Spanish goalkeeper (78th). As the final whistle approached, Mbappé provoked and served Güler in the area. The Turk cleverly put it back to him, but the Frenchman missed the target (90th+4). “ He was active, dangerous and scored a superb goal which was important to control the rest of the match. He has been active and that is what we expect from him. A relief for everyone as it was a spectacular goal with fantastic execution. Other than that, his play has been very good. The fans understand the moment of the team and the players better than anyone. They supported Mbappé after Anfield because it was right », Explained Carlo Ancelotti at a press conference. The sun returns to Madrid.
