Azerbaijan
Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
South Africa

Athletic Bilbao1 - 1Mallorca

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 April 2024, 22:48
Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Rey for the 24th time in their history courtesy of a penalty-shootout victory over fellow La Liga outfit Mallorca in Saturday night's final in Seville.

The two teams were level at 1-1 after 120 minutes of football, with Oihan Sancet cancelling out an opener from Dani Rodriguez, but Athletic triumphed 4-2 on penalties to win the competition for the first time since 1984.

Mallorca had been looking to secure the trophy for just the second time in their history following their success in 2003, but they came up just short against the Lions at Estadio de La Cartuja.

Nico Williams, who was declared fit to start after concerns over an injury, had the first half-chance of the match in the 14th minute after finding space in an advanced area, but his effort was punched clear by Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif.

Athletic had another opportunity in the 16th minute, with Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta firing towards goal, but once again Greif was equal to the strike.

Mallorca's first shot came from Vedat Muriqi in the 19th minute, and it almost caught out Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, who unconvincingly tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Mallorca made the breakthrough in the Copa del Rey final, with Rodriguez firing into the back of the net from inside the box after being set up by Antonio Raillo.

Agirrezabala had made a smart save to deny Copete as Athletic struggled to clear their lines, but the goalkeeper had no answer to the powerful drive from Rodriguez.

Athletic had a half-chance to hit back in the 29th minute through Sancet, but his effort from the edge of the box was always rising over the Mallorca crossbar.

Nico Williams did have the ball in the back of the Mallorca net in the 39th minute after a smart exchange with Gorka Guruzeta, but his effort was disallowed due to an offside.

Another opportunity came for the lively Nico Williams in first-half stoppage time, but the Spain international fired into the side-netting, and Mallorca entered the half-time interval with the lead.

Mallorca had a chance to double their lead shortly after the restart, but Cyle Larin's effort was saved by Agirrezabala, before Athletic managed to level the scores in the 50th minute.

It was no surprise that Nico Williams was involved, with the forward sliding a clever pass into Sancet, who took one touch before picking out the back of the net with a composed finish.

Sancet had another opportunity in the 57th minute, but he lifted the ball over the crossbar, before Nico Williams struck one too high just before the hour, with Ernesto Valverde's side well on top.

Greif then did well to keep out an effort from Inaki Williams, before Antonio Sanchez fired over down the other end, with both sides searching for the game's third goal.

Chances continued to arrive at both ends, with Nemanja Radonjic firing over the crossbar for Mallorca, and Yuri Berchiche being denied by Greif after finding space in a promising position.

Neither side were able to find a second in the closing stages of normal time, though, with the Copa del Rey final heading for extra-time.

Iker Muniain, who had only just been introduced, had the first attempt of the extra-time period, but the experienced attacker's effort from the edge of the box was always rising over the crossbar.

Another opportunity came for Muniain in the 102nd minute, but his free kick was wide of the post, and Athletic were doing all of the pushing, with Mallorca sitting deep behind the ball.

Muriqi had a rare chance for Mallorca in the 113th minute, but his header was saved by Agirrezabala, before Unai Gomez missed the target down the other end five minutes later.

Penalties were therefore required to determine the winner, and two misses for Mallorca proved to be crucial, with Athletic netting all four of their spot kicks through Raul Garcia, Muniain, Mikel Vesga and Alex Berenguer to win the Copa del Rey for the first time in 40 years.

Top News

3 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey will be without the services of both Caglar Soyuncu and Enes Unal for this summer's European Championship, with the pair forced to withdraw from the preliminary squad. 3 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella named a preliminary 35-man squad for this summer's European Championship, with the group needing to be cut to 26 before the start of the competition. 3 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to lead the Portugal line in Tuesday's international friendly with Finland. 3 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly stepped in to prevent one of their players from participating at the Olympic Games. 3 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The first of Portugal's three pre-Euro 2024 friendly fixtures will take place in Lisbon on Tuesday evening, with Finland making the trip to Estadio Jose Alvalade. 3 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Internacional will hope to increase their chances of making it to the next round of the Copa Sudamericana when they travel to face Real Tomayapo on Wednesday. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have apparently received a boost in their pursuit of a highly-rated midfield target, as one of his fellow suitors have hit the pause button on their pursuit. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona's decision to part ways with head coach Xavi could reportedly benefit Joao Felix's chances of staying with the Catalonian giants for next season. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still waiting for their first slice of continental stardom, England's latest quest for European Championships supremacy is almost underway, and the level of expectation has hardly weighed heavier on the shoulders of Gareth Southgate's crop. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Huachipato can progress to the next round of the Copa Libertadores when they host Gremio at Estadio CAP on Wednesday. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 friendly matches on Tuesday evening, with Bulgaria their opponents at Stadionul Steaua in Bucharest. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Antoine Griezmann is reportedly free to leave Atletico Madrid for just £12.8m this summer, with a number of MLS clubs said to be keeping a close eye on his situation. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hungary travel to the Aviva Stadium to face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday evening in the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid this summer has allegedly been 'signed, sealed and completed', with the European champions set to announce his arrival next week. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has left the door open for Toni Kroos to reverse his decision to retire from professional footballer this summer. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Gareth Southgate was without as many as seven players for Sunday's training session as the Three Lions prepare to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Monday's friendly. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that he is not to blame for the club's big-money moves for the likes of Antony and Casemiro during his time at Old Trafford. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures on Tuesday evening, with Estonia their opponents at the Swissporarena in Lucerne. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are under pressure to make some first-team sales during this summer's transfer window due to their ongoing financial issues, and a number of high-profile players have been linked with exits. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Before their respective Euro 2024 campaigns take precedence, Austria and Serbia commence their preparations for the tournament on Tuesday, meeting in Vienna for an international friendly. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he wants to bring a new central midfielder to Old Trafford during this summer's transfer window. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Before attempting to upset the Euro 2024 Group C apple cart, Slovenia play their first of two warm-up friendlies on Tuesday, hosting Armenia at the Stozice Stadium. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Preparations for Euro 2024 are in full swing for Gareth Southgate's England, who are being put through their paces at St George's Park before jetting off to Germany for the latest edition of the continental championships. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has revealed that no decision has been made on Jadon Sancho's future. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly assessing whether to make an approach for a defender who is currently plying his trade in Primeira Liga. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has claimed that Luke Shaw "will never be able to play 60 games in a year" due to the severe leg injury that occurred earlier in his career. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed that he wants to bring a centre-back, central midfielder and centre-forward to Old Trafford during this summer's transfer window. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Mineiro vs. Bahia (Sunday, 8.00pm) Atletico Mineiro host second-placed Bahia in Sunday's round seven Brasileiro encounter at Arena MRV.