Athletic Bilbao’s decades-long quest for Copa del Rey glory finally came to fruition as they triumphed over Mallorca 4-2 in a nail-biting penalty shootout, putting an end to their streak of six consecutive final defeat.
The sold-out La Cartuja stadium erupted in celebration as Athletic clinched their 24th Copa del Rey title, their first since 1984, marking a historic moment for the club and its fans.
The match saw Mallorca take an early lead through Dani Rodriguez’s strike, putting Athletic on the back foot. Despite their relentless pursuit of an equalizer, Athletic was initially denied by an offside ruling, leaving them trailing at halftime. However, their determination paid off as Oihan Sancet leveled the score shortly after the break, igniting hopes of a comeback.
As the game stretched into extra time, both teams battled fiercely for a decisive goal, with Athletic’s Julen Agirrezabala making crucial saves to keep his side in contention. Mallorca, aiming to replicate their 2003 Cup triumph, faced a resilient Athletic side determined to rewrite their Cup final history.
In the tense shootout that followed, Athletic held their nerve, with Agirrezabala’s heroics between the posts and clinical finishing from their penalty takers securing victory.
The triumph not only ended Athletic’s Copa del Rey drought but also showcased the club’s commitment to its unique Basque-only player policy, reaffirming their status as one of Spain’s most storied football institutions.
