Thu Nov 28 07:21:02 UTC 2024: ## Mbappe’s Miss Leaves Real Madrid on Brink of Champions League Exit
**Liverpool, England** – Real Madrid’s hopes of defending their Champions League title are hanging by a thread after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. The loss leaves the Spanish giants in danger of a first-stage elimination from the revamped 36-team competition.
French superstar Kylian Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, endured a nightmarish performance. He was subdued by Liverpool’s young defender Conor Bradley and missed a crucial penalty that would have halved the deficit. His penalty miss came after Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring. Substitute Cody Gakpo later added a second for Liverpool.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti defended Mbappé, attributing his struggles to a “difficult moment” and emphasizing the need for “love and support” for the player. Ancelotti cited a potential lack of confidence and urged patience, highlighting Mbappé’s exceptional talent.
Mbappé’s overall performance mirrored the team’s struggles. He has scored only one goal in the Champions League for Real Madrid this season, despite his nine goals across all competitions for the club. Real Madrid currently sits 24th in the league phase of the Champions League, facing the prospect of a playoff round instead of direct qualification to the round of 16. Their next match is against Atalanta next month.
Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, celebrated their first ever victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. The win extends their perfect record in the competition this season, placing them atop the standings. Their next match is against Girona. Mohamed Salah also missed a penalty for Liverpool in the game.
First Piper 