Athletic Bilbao broke free from a streak of six consecutive Copa Del Rey final losses by clinching a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Mallorca, marking a triumphant end to their 40-year silverware drought.
Securing their 24th Copa Del Rey title, their first since 1984, Alex Berenguer’s crucial penalty sealed a 4-2 win in the shootout in Seville. The sold-out La Cartuja stadium witnessed jubilant celebrations as Athletic put an end to their recent heartbreak in the competition, notably suffering two final defeats in 2021 within a short span of time.
Dani Rodriguez fired Mallorca – 15th in La Liga – ahead in the 21st minute after Athletic failed to clear from a corner.
Athletic, striving for a top-four La Liga placement under ex-Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, had an equalizer disallowed just before halftime as Nico Williams’ goal was deemed offside.
However, Oihan Sancet leveled the score shortly after the break, curling in a shot after Williams’ recovered possession and set him up.
Neither team managed to secure a victory, with Williams unable to score in the second half of extra time, while Mallorca’s Muriqi had his header saved by Athletic’s goalkeeper Agirrezabala.
Mallorca, who competed in Spain’s third tier, as recently as 2018, sought their second Copa Del Rey title after winning in 2003. In the shootout, Agirrezabala, 23, saved Morlanes’ penalty, and Radonjic missed, while Athletic’s first four penalty takers all scored.
Only Barcelona, with 31 titles, have won the trophy more times than Athletic, Spain’s fourth-oldest club, which maintains a unique philosophy of exclusively fielding local players.
