Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, left, attempts a shot on goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Real Madrid in Seville, Spain, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Kylian Mbappe endured a night to forget as Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season, with the French forward facing some particularly harsh reviews for his performance.Real Madrid were beaten 1-0 by Real Betis on Friday evening, with Troy Parrott scoring the only goal of the game at Estadio La Cartuja.The result ended Real Madrid’s unbeaten start under Jose Mourinho, while Mbappe’s display quickly became one of the main talking points afterwards.
Mbappe’s performance comes under heavy scrutiny
Real Madrid had two late opportunities to rescue something from the match, but neither produced an equaliser.Parrott gave Betis the lead in the 81st minute after Thibaut Courtois had produced a superb save, only for the rebound to fall back into the danger area for the former Tottenham striker to finish from close range.Seven minutes later, Real Madrid thought they had found a way back into the game when substitute Carlos Espi scored with a bicycle kick. The effort was ruled out, however, leaving Mourinho’s side with one final opportunity in stoppage time.Real Madrid were awarded a penalty in the third minute of added time, but Mbappe failed to convert it.The Spanish side protested that the spot-kick should have been retaken because of apparent encroachment by Betis defender Marc Bartra, but the decision stood and Betis held on for a famous victory.Mbappe’s overall display attracted some brutal assessments from the Spanish and French media.French outlet Journal du Real gave him a 2/10, accusing the forward of failing to step up and lead his team and describing it as a “performance to forget”.Le Parisien characterised it as a “rare night” in which Mbappe offered little joy, while criticising his “stingy” pressing and “imprecise” technical quality.The Spanish reaction was even harsher.ELDesmarque handed Mbappe just 1/10 and accused him of being “selfish” when he received the ball in dangerous areas, while also describing his finishing as “wasteful”.It was a particularly uncomfortable assessment for a player expected to lead Real Madrid’s attack, although Mourinho was not interested in joining the pile-on.
Mourinho defends Mbappe after first defeat
Mourinho instead pointed towards what he believed were shortcomings in his own team’s approach and the way Betis managed the match.“The team played a great game,” Mourinho told reporters after the defeat. “Sometimes you lose and you don’t know why or how to explain it.”The Real Madrid manager then suggested that Betis had been more streetwise than his players.“The Betis players are smarter than the Real Madrid players, who are pure, naive,” he said.Mourinho was particularly frustrated by incidents early in the match, arguing that Betis should have received yellow cards for challenges on Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr.“In the first play of the game, it was a clear yellow card for a player who fouled Valverde, and then another yellow for a player who committed a serious foul on Vini Jr.”He believed Real Madrid’s players were too passive in situations where Betis were trying to influence the referee.“The Madrid players immediately bounced back, but the Betis players are smarter and, with the support of a fantastic fanbase that pushes, pressures, and achieves these kinds of things.”Mourinho returned to the point when discussing what he saw as Real Madrid’s naivety.“We’re naive in the sense that Betis players try to influence the referee’s decision over the smallest things. Real Madrid players, in situations that should warrant a yellow card, like when he stepped on Valverde, stayed on their feet. That’s worthy of a Real Madrid captain.”And when the subject turned specifically to Mbappe’s missed penalty, Mourinho refused to put the blame on his forward.“And the missed penalty is like I always say: when one of us goes to take a penalty, we all go together.”Real Madrid now have little time to dwell on their first defeat, with Barcelona presented with the opportunity to move three points clear of their title rivals when they face Valencia on Sunday evening.For Mbappe, the reaction to his performance is likely to linger longer. After being handed some of the lowest ratings of his Real Madrid career, the forward will have the chance to answer them on the pitch, but Mourinho has already made clear that he does not see the defeat as one player’s responsibility.