Kylian Mbappe panned by L’Equipe after Real Madrid’s defeat at Liverpool as Jude Bellingham also receives a dismally low score in French paper’s player ratings
Kylian Mbappe had a night to forget as Real Madrid lost 2-0 at Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
Mbappe played the full 90 minutes at Anfield but registered just two shots, including a penalty saved by Reds keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
He also had the lowest completion percentage (75 percent) of all field players.
As the former captain of Paris Saint-Germain and current skipper of France, Mbappé was naturally scrutinized by French newspaper L’Equipe during Wednesday’s match.
In the newspaper’s player assessment article, Mbappé scored a paltry 2/10, making him the worst player along with teammates Arda Guler and Ferland Mendy to give away a penalty.
L’Equipe are known for judging players harshly and this was reflected elsewhere on Wednesday when Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric and Brahim Diaz each scored just 3/10.
Kylian Mbappé put in a disappointing performance as Real Madrid lost 2-0 at Liverpool
Mbappe’s only shot on target came from a penalty, which was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher
Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley performed an excellent slide tackle on Mbappe at Anfield
Meanwhile, the ratings given to Liverpool’s players ranged between 5/10 and 7/10, with Conor Bradley and Mac Allister scoring the highest.
Discussing Mbappe’s poor performances, L’Equipe said he was struggling in the absence of Vinicius Junior and that the ex-PSG star ‘suffered from the comparison’ with the Ballon d’Or runner-up after trying to impress the left flank. .
The newspaper added that Mbappe “has still not been able to take on the role of leading the attack in Madrid.”
Mbappe’s disappointing evening is also said to be partly down to a solid 6/10 performance from Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, ‘dominating him in the clash between the two French internationals’.
Mail Sport reporter Lewis Steele was also unimpressed with Mbappe, but gave him a significantly higher grade than L’Equipe in his player ratings article.
Steele summed up Mbappe’s apparent 4/10 performance at Anfield: ‘Bullyed by young Bradley and, like fellow Galactico Bellingham, Mbappe put in a ghostly performance. Punishment was weak.”
Mbappe has now failed to score in seven of his last nine games for Madrid, having scored in six of his first nine games.
After eighteen games for Los Merengues, he has a total of nine goals.
Mbappe was one of three Madrid players to score just 2/10 in L’Equipe’s ratings on Wednesday
Liverpool number 5 Ibrahima Konate defeated number 9 Mbappe in the majority of their matches
England star Jude Bellingham (centre) also had a frustrating evening against Liverpool
Liverpool’s first goal of the match was scored by Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister
Wednesday’s defeat at Anfield leaves Madrid in 24th place in the Champions League with three rounds to go, while Liverpool sit top with a 100 percent record.
Madrid’s final three games in this phase are away against Atalanta, at home against RB Salzburg and then against Brest in France.
Teams ranked between ninth and 24th at the end of the league stage will take part in a two-legged play-off, with the winners reaching the last 16.
The top eight teams in the competition stage will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing 25th to 36th will be eliminated from Europe.
Madrid have now lost three of their last five games in all competitions, including home defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan.
Barca are currently four points ahead of Madrid in their battle for La Liga glory.
