On Saturday night, the champion of the 2024 King’s Cup of Spain was defined. Athletic Bilbao beat Mallorca on penalties, 4-2, and lifted the competition cup after a 1-1 draw in normal time. The final was played in a single game at the Estádio Olímpico de la Cartuja, in Seville. Sancet scored for the Basque Country team, while Dani Rodríguez scored for the rival team.
With the result, Athletic Bilbao once again lifted the Copa del Rey trophy after a 40-year absence – the last title had been won in 1984. Bilbao is the second team with the most trophies in the history of the competition. Coach Ernesto Valverde’s team took home their 24th trophy and further increased their advantage over Real Madrid, as the Merengues have won 20 titles.
The clubs will now have their next commitments for the 31st round of the Spanish Championship. Athletic Bilbao will face Villarreal next Sunday (14), at 1:30 pm (Brasília time), at the San Mamés stadium.
Mallorca will not have an easy life ahead: they receive the Real Madrid. The ball rolls this Saturday (13th), also from 1:30 pm, at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.
The game
Mallorca’s goalkeeper worked for the first time in the 12th minute of the match. Galarreta dominated the chest and took a risk from outside the area. Archer Greif made a great save in the left corner and sent it to the corner.
Six minutes later, it was Mallorca’s turn to respond. Also with a shot from outside the area, Muriqi decided to hit the goal. Goalkeeper Agirrezabala sent the ball over the crossbar. And it was precisely from this corner kick that the first goal of the game came from.
In the 20th minute, after two Mallorca shots were hit, the ball fell to Raillo at the edge of the penalty area. Instead of trying to shoot, the player just gave a touch to Dani Rodríguez, who finished first and opened the score: 1-0.
With the goal conceded, Athletico Bilbao had to attack Mallorca. In the 39th minute, Nico William scored, but it was offside. The striker connected with his teammate and scored, but he was ahead of the last defender and the goal was quickly disallowed.
And Bilbao wasted another golden chance in the final stretch of the first half. Nico William made a diagonal behind the defense and entered the penalty area, receiving a beautiful pass from Galarreta. The number 11, however, tried to hit the opposing goalkeeper’s foot and sent it out.
⚽️ GOOOOOOL FROM RCD MALLORCA!!! BRAND DANI RODRÍGUEZ!!!
The Mallorcan player resolved after several rejections in the area to calmly beat Agirrezabala.
🆚 @AthleticClub – @RCD_Mallorca | 0-1 | 20′
📺 @La1_tve y @MovistarFutbol#CopaDelRey | #LaCopaMola pic.twitter.com/dfykvtRfM5
— RFEF (@rfef) April 6, 2024
Just after half-time, Mallorca had a great opportunity to extend their lead. After a throw, Larin got into Dani Vivian’s body, invaded the penalty area and tried to take it from the goalkeeper with the shot, but archer Agirrezabala fell to make a great save.
And the saying ‘those who don’t do it, get it’ was quickly seen in the decision. In the fifth minute, Nico Williams found a beautiful pass for Sancet, who infiltrated the penalty area behind the rival defense. The midfielder hit Greif and left everything even with a beautiful goal: 1-1.
In the final minutes of the second half, Athletic Bilbao still tried final attacks, but were unable to score the second goal. As a result, the Copa del Rey decision went into extra time.
The first 15 minutes of extra time were uneventful, due to the fatigue of both teams. The final stage was busier and both teams had chances to win the trophy, but they did not convert the opportunities and, therefore, the decision went to penalties.
The first two kicks were converted. Afterwards, Morlanes, from Mallorca, stopped in defense of Agirrezabala and Muniain converted. Then Radonjic, also from the visiting team, isolated. All Bilbao players, in turn, scored their goals for the team to win the title.
⚽️ 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗗𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗥!!
❤️🤍 ATHLETIC CLUB IS CHAMPION OF THE KING’S CUP IN SEVILLAAAAA!!
📺 @La1_tve y @MovistarFutbol#CopaDelRey | #LaCopaMola pic.twitter.com/DxejoP1yfW
— RFEF (@rfef) April 6, 2024
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
MALLORCA ATHLETIC BILBAO
MURIQI – CONVERT RAUL GARCÍA – CONVERT
MORLANES – LOST MUNIAIN – CONVERTED
RADONJIC – LOST VESGA – CONVERTED
ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ – CONVERT BERENGUER – CONVERT
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
