No game last weekend for RCD Mallorca due to the international break. Tomorrow at 21.00 they have a difficult away game against Athletic Club Bilbao. Unbelievably every single one of Athletic Club’s players was either born in the Basque Country or brought up there.
As an institution, Athletic Club and all its supporters are characterised by a steadfast belief in a set of values which are becoming increasingly uncommon in football and 21st century sport. Athletic Club takes pride in its own and has a philosophy and way of seeing football that is unique in the world of football. This ideal is fully reflected in its policy of promoting academy players.
Athletic Club is based in Bilbao, a city situated in Biscay, a province which makes up part of the Basque Country. The club’s sporting philosophy is governed by a code which states that Athletic Club may only field players who have come through its own academy or the academies of other clubs in the Basque Country, or players who were born in the following territories which constitute the Basque Country: Biscay, Gipuzkoa, Alava, Navarre, Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre.
A stern test for Mallorca who like their hosts go in to the game unbeaten.
My first game after the lockdown was Atlético Baleares and after a disappointing season last year, it was time to go back and see what has changed. You can only be impressed by the stadium with the main stand completed and temporary stands behind each goal. The pitch is like a carpet and in great condition.
UD Ibiza continued their unbeaten run in La Liga Smartbank last weekend. Although they will be disappointed to only get a point from a game they dominated against SD Amorebieta. They went 0-1 down in the 3rd minute when their goalkeeper German came for a cross which he never looked like getting to and Obieta’s header looped into the goal. Ibiza’s pressure eventually told when Castel rifled in from the edge of the box. In the words of Our Man in San Man, “Ibiza had more than enough chances but could only get a point. They will have to be more clinical in the future.”
Two games, two wins and top of the league for Atlético Baleares in their quest to get promoted to La Liga Smartbank. On paper it looked like it would be a difficult game against Albacete, who’d won 3-1 against Castellón the previous week. But in all honesty Baleares blew their opponents away with three goals in the first half, one more in the second and running out 4-1 winners, sending the 2,200 spectators home happy. They were helped by some poor Albacete defending particularly in the first half. Also their new striker Dioni Villalba looks a good signing with a hat-trick in his first home game. He was the only change from the team that won in Cornelia 0-2 last week.
They went 1-0 up as early as the 5th minute as a defensive mix-up led to the Albacete goalkeeper upending Canario and conceding a penalty. It wasn’t a goal scoring opportunity, so the referee gave the keeper a yellow card. Dioni dispatched the penalty with ease to put the home team ahead. Albacete equalised against the run of play in the 10th minute when a defensive long ball found its way to Jordi Sanchez who calmly slotted the ball past Rene Roman.
Baleares retook the lead on the 32nd minute when a training ground corner routine saw Iñaki head them in front. That lead was increased in the 40th minute when Canario and Hugo combined to set up Dioni for his second goal and Baleares went in 3-1 up at the break.
Any hope of a comeback from Albacete were dashed in the 51st minute, a shot from Canario came back off the post and Dioni was on hand to slot home his hat-trick and Baleares fourth goal. A couple of smart saves from Roman kept the visitors at bay and they ran out 4-1 winners.
Coach Xavi Calm said after the game, “The intention throughout the week was for everyone to be happy at two in the afternoon, so we have to celebrate it because it was a difficult match. The attitude from the whole team was great and we are of course happy but now we are thinking about Villarreal.”
Which is this coming Sunday at 12 midday at the Estadio Balear. Their B side is joint top with Baleares with exactly the same goals scored(six) and goals conceded(one). It should be an interesting encounter.
The results from the first round of Segunda RFEF,
Peña Deportiva 1 Ejea 0
Tarazona 2 Andratx 0
SD Formentera 2 Ibiza Pitiusas 1
This weekends games,
Sunday 12.00: Ejea v Sd Formentera
Sunday 12.00: Huesca B v Peña Deportva
Sunday 12.00: Andratx v Teruel
Sunday 12.00: Ibiza Pitiusas v Tarazona
The results from the first round of Tercera RFEF Baleares,
Santanyi 2 UD Collerense 1
PE Sant Jordi 0 Manacor 2
Binnisalem 1 Inter Ibiza 0
Llósetense 2 Constancia 1
Poblense 3 Campos 0
Platges de Calvia 0 Múrense 0
CF Sant Rafel 6 Son Veri 0
Rotlet Molinar 1 Mercadal 1
Real Mallorca B 1 SD Portmany 3
Soller 1 Felanitx 0
This weekends games,
Saturday 17.00: Felanitx v PE Sant Jordi
Saturday 17.30: Constancia v Binnisalem
Saturday 18.00: Campos v Soller
Saturday 18.30: UD Collerense v Real Mallorca B
Saturday 19.00: Manacor v Rotlet Molinar
Saturday 19.00: Severense v Santanyi
Saturday 19.30: Son Veri v Platges de Calvia
Sunday 11.30: Inter Ibiza v Poblense
Sunday 12.30: Mercadal v CF Sant Rafel
Sunday 16.30: SD Portmany v Llosetense
The results from Division Honor,
Atlético Baleares 1 Cornelia 1
UD U Bellvitge 0 Real Mallorca 1
CD San Francisco 1 Espanyol 2
This weeks fixtures,
Sunday 11.30: Real Mallorca v CD Ebro
Sunday 12.00: Zaragoza v Atlético Baleares
Sunday 16.30: Cornelia v CD San Francisco
Take care everyone.
Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday 07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
A Kick in the Balearics 