Athletic Club’s goalkeeper reveals the strategy behind stopping Kylian Mbappe’s penalty: “We analyze every detail.”
At San Mamés, Athletic Club goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala stole the spotlight with a match-winning performance that earned him widespread acclaim from fans and teammates.
The crowd’s admiration was palpable as they celebrated both the team’s victory over Real Madrid and Agirrezabala’s exceptional penalty save. After the match, the goalkeeper expressed his joy, emphasizing the strong connection with the fans and his appreciation for their unwavering support.
“A lot of joy. For us, the fans are everything. I’m super grateful for the support they give the team and me individually,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
Saving Mbappé’s Penalty
A pivotal moment of the night was Agirrezabala’s penalty save against Kylian Mbappé. The young goalkeeper had prepared extensively, analyzing Mbappé’s penalty-taking tendencies.
“Nowadays, we study everything in detail. I knew he was a great penalty taker,” he explained. He noted that Mbappé had missed a penalty in his previous game against Liverpool, leading him to predict the Frenchman would aim for the same side again.
“He missed the last one (against Liverpool), and I thought he might try the same side. Luckily, that’s what happened.”
This insight proved crucial as Agirrezabala successfully stopped the shot, making a vital contribution despite having conceded the penalty earlier.
Triumph Over Real Madrid
Reflecting on the victory, Agirrezabala described the experience of defeating Real Madrid at home as unforgettable.
“Beating Real Madrid at home is such a great feeling. In recent years, it’s been tough to get a result against them here. I’m really happy with the three points and the team’s effort,” he shared.
Agirrezabala’s heroics, including the penalty save, played a decisive role in securing the win, cementing his place as the night’s standout performer.
For Mbappé, it was a rare moment of vulnerability, marking only the second time in his career he missed consecutive penalties, following his earlier miss against Liverpool at Anfield in
the Champions League.
