Kylian Mbappe penalty miss sparks Real Madrid debate

Kylian Mbappe’s missed late penalty has left Real Madrid debating a decision that denied them a chance to draw with Real Betis. The controversy centred on Marc Bartra’s position as the kick was taken and on whether his involvement after the save should have led to a retake.

Referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández awarded the penalty in the 93rd minute after a foul on Vinicius Junior. Mbappe took responsibility, but Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles saved the attempt. Bartra then reached the loose ball before any Madrid player and sent it out for a corner, prompting protests from the Madrid bench and supporters.

Video review established that Bartra had moved into the area before the kick and influenced the next phase by clearing the rebound. However, his feet were still off the ground at the instant Mbappe struck the ball. Since encroachment is assessed by where a player’s feet make contact with the pitch, the officials judged that the conditions for a retake had not been met.

The penalty was not the only disputed VAR moment. Carlos Espi, introduced for Federico Valverde, appeared to reduce the deficit with a goal five minutes after coming on, but the effort was ruled out for a marginal offside earlier in the move. Both decisions added to Madrid’s frustration at the end of the match.