MALLORCA TODAY - Athletic Bilbao 2 : 1 Real Mallorca

Maybe not decisive today, but if Mallorca lose in Bilbao, their chances of staying up become more remote.

Things got off to a bad start. Aduriz had a dust-up with Fontás and straight afterwards headed Bilbao into the lead, Tissone having given the ball away and allowed Aurtenetxe to send in a cross. Fontás, who has hardly featured this season, didn't take long to become even less of a feature. Handball in the area and he was off, following his second yellow. A let-off though for Mallorca, Aouate saving Aduriz's penalty. Into the second half, and Dos Santos, Mallorca's best player all season, saw his shot from a direct free-kick saved by Iraizoz. Mallorca were going for it, but it was Bilbao who struck through Llorente. Almost immediately, though, Mallorca were back in the game. This time, Dos Santos's free-kick beat the Bilbao keeper. Two minutes later, the Mexican had another go, only going just wide of the post. As the clock ran down, Mallorca desperate for an equaliser, Ximo picked up his second yellow. Mallorca down to nine men. Dos Santos managed one final effort but it was to no avail. Mallorca remained stuck on 29 points at the bottom of La Liga and so four points behind Osasuna in the safety spot of 17th.

With three matches to go, Mallorca still have hope, but it is fading. Osasuna (playing later today) could move up. Zaragoza are in 16th spot with 34 points, having drawn last night, and Granada, away to Sociedad on Monday, are in 15th with 35 points. Mallorca have Betis at home a week on Monday, and Betis, who are at home to lowly Vigo tomorrow, have a chance of a Europa League spot. The final two games are away to Atlético Madrid and at home against Valladolid.


Bilbao:
Iraizoz; Iraola, Ekiza, San José (Iturraspe 45), Aurtenetxe; Gurpegi, Ander; Susaeta, De Marcos, Muniain (Gómez 71); Aduriz (Llorente 55)
Goals: Aduriz (7), Llorente (78)
Yellows: Aduriz (5), Gurpegi (30), De Marcos (58), Iraola (82)

Mallorca:
Aouate; Hutton, Geromel, Fontás, Ximo; Martí (Nsue 67), Pina, Tissone; Dos Santos, Victor (Arizmendi 57), Hemed
Goal: Dos Santos (80)
Reds: Fontás (24), Ximo (90)
Yellows: Fontás (5), Ximo (24), Martí (30), Hutton (74)

MALLORCA TODAY - Athletic Bilbao 1 : 0 Real Mallorca

Mallorca, all but assured of staying in the top flight next season, at Bilbao, hunting for a top-six position. A curious set-up to Mallorca with defender Bigas in midfield, Athletic took most of the possession and posed most of the threat in the first half, Llorente heading them into the lead on 12 minutes. It was Bigas, though, who struck a post to come closest for Mallorca in what was otherwise a one-sided period. The introduction of Castro at half-time helped to enliven Mallorca into more goal-bound action, and Hemed's arrival with under ten minutes remaining indicated a willingness to look for an equaliser, but to no avail and Bilbao could have added a second, Toquero hitting the bar into added time.

Athletic:
Iraizoz; Iraola, Martínez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Iturraspe, Ander (Ekiza 54); Susaeta, De Marcos, Gómez (Gabilondo 77); Llorente (Toquero 71)
Goal: Llorente (12)
Yellow: Ander (49)

Mallorca:
Aouate; Cendrós, Crespí, Ramis, Cáceres (Hemed 82); Pina, Bigas (Tejera 66); Pereira, Alfaro (Castro 45), Nsue; Victor
Yellows: Cáceres (52), Cendrós (76), Pereira (85), Tejera (87)

MALLORCA TODAY - (Copa del Rey) Athletic Bilbao 2 : 0 Real Mallorca

Cup quarter-finals time, first leg for Mallorca away in Bilbao and taking the competition more seriously now, fielding pretty much a full-strength side. Following the thrashing of Real Sociedad in the last round and the unlucky and brave match against Real Madrid in the league, Mallorca would have gone into the quarter-final with confidence. In what was a pretty even first half in which Mallorca were outpassing Athletic, the away team were unlucky to go a goal down after 35 minutes: Llorente, the Spanish international, with a header. The introduction of Pérez by Bilbao at half-time had an effect in creating more opportunities and a second goal came through a Muinain header 13 minutes into the period, with Mallorca beginning to show a familiar failing of lack of discipline. Mallorca pressed hard towards the end but couldn't restore some balance to the tie, the second leg of which will be at the Iberostar stadium next Wednesday. Mallorca will know that they can come back, as they did against Real Sociedad, but Bilbao are not Sociedad.


Athletic:
Iraizoz; Iraola (Pérez 45), Martínez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Iturraspe, Ander (San José 86); Susaeta (Toquero 89), De Marcos, Muniain; Llorente
Goals: Llorente (35), Muniain (58)
Yellows: Llorente (9), Muniain (77)

Mallorca:
Calatayud; Cendrós, Nunes, Ramis, Cáceres; Tissone (Martí 56), Joao Victor, Pereira, Castro (Nsue 66); Victor, Hemed (Alfaro 45)
Yellows: Cendrós (44), Tissone (48), Nunes (54), Pereira (57), Joao Victor (85)