Kylian Mbappé, the star expected to elevate Real Madrid, is going through a difficult period at Santiago Bernabeu after the first bout of the new season.
The match against Getafe in round 15 of La Liga brought some light to Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid. The 25-year-old scored a beautiful goal after an assist from Jude Bellingham, sealing a 2-0 victory for the home team. This is the second consecutive round he has scored in the domestic tournament, after a series of 9 with only 2 goals.
However, looking back at the 0-2 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, things are not so simple. In that match, Mappe failed to make an impact in wide areas and even missed a penalty kick. From this lack of sharp performance, the wave of criticism for the French star became even stronger.
Mbappe, who used to be a “goal-scoring machine” at Paris Saint-Germain but is finding signs of desertion. In 9 matches before the win against Getafe, he only scored 2 goals. Statistics from the Champions League are even more worrying: Mbappé travels an average of only 8.9 km per match – the lowest in the Real Madrid squad. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior achieved 10.4 km and 9.6 km respectively.
According to Relevo, Real Madrid was warned in advance about the decline in Mpbappe’s strength index. Since the 2018 World Cup, factors such as distance traveled, high-intensity efforts, and sprint speed have decreased year by year. However, Los Blancos still decided to accept this star. The reason is not difficult to understand given his effective appeal and automatic transferability.
From the first day of launch, the Mappe jersey became the best-selling product at the football team’s store. However, this raises the big question, is Real Madrid paying the price for focusing too much on commercial value, instead of the ability to integrate into the style of play?
Returning to the recent match against Getafe, the 2-0 victory not only brought hope to the 25-year-old superstar but also to the entire football team. Bellingham continued to prove his worth with a great assist, while Mbappé found his inherent danger with a spectacular goal from outside the box. Although the atomic bomb could not be found as usual, Mappe set out to regain control. His performance was met with positivity among fans in the Bernabeu stands.
For Mbappe to reach his peak at Real Madrid, both the team and the French star need time. For Mbappé, this is not only a challenge in his career but also an opportunity to prove his field. Los Blancos need to optimize his tactics to take advantage of his strengths instead of forcing him to adapt to an unsuitable style of play. The lesson from Luka Modric – who was once considered a “failed contract” but then became a legend – is proof that display and belief can bring a brilliant aura.