Mallorca won the Copa del Rey in 2003. Now, more than 20 years later, they are finally back to the final. Since 2009, the team has not even been able to reach the semi-finals. Therefore, reaching the finals is a huge win for them. Real Sociedad did not disappoint, either. The game ended with a 1-1 draw that forced the team to penalties. Mallorca won with a penalty shootout win of 5-4 against Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad 1-1 Mallorca (4-5 on penalties)
The two teams had their first leg on Feb 6th. They drew 0-0. However, this time, things took a different turn. Mallorca had the home advantage, and they used that to their advantage by scoring the first goal in the 50th minute. Giovanni Gonzalez scored that goal just five minutes after the restart of the game.
Even with the added half-hour of play, no team was able to seal their win. This led to a winner-takes-all contest. Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Dominic Greif, was able to save the first penalty by Mikel Oyarzabal. In addition, Sergi Darder scored the last penalty, putting Mallorca in the Copa del Rey final.
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What Next for Mallorca?
Their final game will be on April 5th. They will have to face either Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.
The win for Mallorca most likely will boost their morale in La Liga, considering they are 16th on the table, and they would not want to be in the relegation zone.
Athletic Bilbao have a 1-0 lead over Atletico Madrid’s side. They will be playing the second leg on Thursday.
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What Next for Real Sociedad?
On the other hand, Real Sociedad will need to regroup since they are playing in the Champions League last-16 meeting. They will play with Paris St-Germain. The French champions led 2-0 in the first leg.
Conclusion
Both teams were well-prepared for the game. However, we can only have one winner. Mallorca led in the first five minutes after half-time. But that did not stop Real Sociedad from equalizing a few minutes later. Each team was determined to win, considering they each persevered for the added half-hour of the game. In the end, Grief was the hero of the day, for he saved the first penalty for Mallorca.
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