Mbappe’s La Liga Debut Draws Comparisons to Eden Hazard After Disappointing Start
Real Madrid‘s much-anticipated summer signing, Kylian Mbappe, found himself at the center of a storm of criticism following his La Liga debut against Real Mallorca on Sunday night.
The match, which ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw for Los Blancos, saw the French forward struggle to make an impact, leading to a wave of ridicule from fans and pundits alike.
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid after a high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, was expected to light up the Spanish league with his electric pace and goal-scoring prowess.
However, his first league outing was far from the dazzling display many had anticipated. Instead, the 24-year-old was largely anonymous, failing to register a single shot on target and creating zero chances for his teammates.
Real Madrid had initially taken the lead through a brilliant curling effort from Rodrygo in the first half, but their advantage was short-lived.
Vedat Muriqi of Mallorca equalized early in the second half, and despite the visitors’ efforts, they could not find a winner.
The situation worsened for Madrid when Ferland Mendy received a red card in stoppage time, leaving the team to rue missed opportunities and the loss of two crucial points.
As the final whistle blew, social media was ablaze with reactions to Mbappe’s underwhelming performance. Some fans drew unflattering comparisons to former Real Madrid player Eden Hazard, who struggled to make an impact during his time with the club.
A fan under the handle @UTD_Mace did not hold back, stating, “[Eden] Hazard 2.0 You first saw it here.”
The criticism didn’t stop there. @TheHattrickuk, another football enthusiast, described Mbappe’s performance as a “BIBLICAL STINKER,” a sentiment that echoed across various platforms.
Meanwhile, @ibrahimbht was even more scathing, labeling the display as “disgraceful” and “shambolic.” He added, “Mbappe, best bench, doesn’t matter. Disgraceful shambolic performance, changes far too late, honestly what a waste of 2 hours.”
Some Madrid fans also took issue with the team’s tactical setup. @mxdric questioned the decision to play with three left-wingers, sarcastically noting, “It’s almost as if playing three left wingers is a bad idea, who would have guessed? (Everyone that has even the slightest understanding of football).”
Others pointed out the challenges Mbappe might face in La Liga compared to his previous experiences in Ligue 1. @UNIVERSO_1899 remarked, “Mbappé seeing that he has gone to a League that is not for farmers,” hinting at the higher level of competition in Spain.
The result left Real Madrid with just a point from their opening game, marking the first time in six seasons under Carlo Ancelotti that the team has failed to win their La Liga opener. For Mbappe, the match was a sobering reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in Spain’s top flight.
Despite the rough start, Mbappe will have another chance to silence his critics when Real Madrid host Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu next Sunday.
The forward will be eager to make amends and get his La Liga goal tally up and running, proving that the comparisons to Hazard are premature and unfounded.
Mbappe’s La Liga Debut Draws Comparisons to Eden Hazard After Disappointing Start