MALLORCA TODAY - (Copa del Rey) Real Mallorca 0 (0) : 1 (3) Athletic Bilbao

Two-nil down from the first leg, Mallorca faced a major challenge to try and get into the Copa del Rey semis. An open first half with Bilbao looking in the early exchanges to bury the tie completely, but Mallorca then coming more into play. With both sides pressing, Mallorca could find no way through Bilbao, throwing Castro on instead of defender Cendrós midway through the second period in an effort to break down the deficit. The introduction had an effect, but an own goal by Ramis sealed the tie after 75 minutes.

Mallorca:
Calatayud; Cendrós (Castro 68), Chico, Ramis, Bigas; Tissone, Joao Victor (Martí 78), Pereira, Alfaro; Álvaro (Victor 58), Hemed

Red: Chico (89)
Yellow: Ramis (90)

Bilbao:
Iraizoz; Iraola, Martínez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Iturraspe, Ander (Pérez 62); Susaeta, De Marcos, Muniain (Toquero 39); Llorente (San José 84)
Goal: Ramis (75 own goal)
Yellows: Amorebieta, Ander, Toquero, Iraizoz

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)