Athletic Club - RCD Mallorca
Matchday 32
Liga

Athletic Club - RCD Mallorca

Athletic Club
Athletic Club
31
RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
  • 16' Raúl García (p.)
  • 24' O. Sancet
  • 90' Villalibre
  • Budimir (p.) 70'

LocationSan Mamés , Bilbo

Athletic enter the fight for a European spot

A 3-1 win against Mallorca, with goals from Raúl García, Sancet and Villalibre, puts them two points behind the seventh place

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Athletic Club prevailed 3-1 over a Mallorca side who did not give them an easy ride. A penalty goal from Raúl García opened the scoring and two academy players, Sancet and Villalibre, sealed the victory. The lions are now immersed in the flight for a European ticket. They will go to bed knowing they are two points behind seventh-placed Real Sociedad. Wednesday’s clash at Mestalla will be decisive to maintain their chances.

Everything was at stake for Mallorca, a side that had arrived at San Mamés with the intention of playing an offensive game. They were not easy rivals. The lions sent them a couple of warnings through two shots from Unai López. Lago Junior’s penalty foul on Raúl García allowed the hosts to open the scoring. Raúl himself converted the penalty with style – his eleventh goal this season.

As it had already happened against Betis, Garitano’s tactics board paved the way. It is no wonder Athletic are the team who records the highest number of rehearsed goals scored in LaLiga. Lions Unai López and Sancet worked a fine shot-corner routine, and Oihan buried a classy shot – a brilliant debut goal as a lion.

After the break, Sancet almost got the third goal, but it was Mallorca who scored on 68 minutes, as a result of a penalty foul from Yuri on Trajkovski that Budimir converted. Dani Rodríguez gave us a scare with a powerful strike, but Athletic rounded off their win on the counter-attack courtesy of Villalibre – his second goal in the league -, after a fine pass between Córdoba and Vesga.