As Real Madrid gears up for their crucial Champions League quarter-final clash against Arsenal, manager Carlo Ancelotti has made a bold decision — handing penalty duties to star forward Kylian Mbappe.
This change follows Vinicius Junior’s missed penalty during their recent 2-1 La Liga loss to Valencia. The Brazilian had a golden opportunity to put Los Blancos ahead just 13 minutes into the match, but his tame effort was easily saved by Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Though Vinicius later scored a consolation goal, the miss proved costly.
According to Marca via GOAL, Ancelotti has decided to relieve Vinicius of penalty-taking responsibilities due to his inconsistency — having missed two penalties this season.
In his place, Mbappe will now take charge from the spot, beginning with Tuesday’s Champions League showdown at the Emirates Stadium. The Frenchman, who is also not perfect from 12 yards (with two missed penalties this season), is still seen as the more confident choice in high-pressure moments.
Should Mbappe falter, Jude Bellingham is next in line. The Englishman has also missed one penalty this season but remains a reliable backup option.
Ancelotti’s decision reflects the importance of maximizing scoring opportunities, especially in high-stakes European ties where one goal can change the outcome of a campaign.
All eyes will be on Mbappe and Real Madrid as they face Arsenal on Tuesday, with the penalty shuffle adding extra intrigue to an already electrifying encounter.
