Athletic Club vs Mallorca Prediction & Betting Tips

In the grand tapestry of Spanish football, the Copa del Rey final holds a special place, offering a unique spectacle that intertwines the narratives of underdogs and footballing royalty. This Saturday's final between Athletic Club and Mallorca is no exception, presenting a compelling clash that encapsulates the essence of the competition. Athletic Club, with its rich history and a recent resurgence under Ernesto Valverde, face a Mallorca side that have shown resilience and tenacity to reach this stage against the odds.

• Athletic Club To Win @ -350 With FanDuel
• Both Teams To Score No @ -154 With FanDuel
• Athletic Club To Score 2+ Goals @ +350 With FanDuel

These odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

• Date: 06/04/2024
• Kick-off time: 21:00
• Location: Estadio La Cartuja

Athletic Club, based in Bilbao and one of the founding members of La Liga, currently sit 4th in the league with 56 points from 29 games. This season has been a revelation for the club, marking what could potentially be their best campaign in over a decade. Under the guidance of Ernesto Valverde, a manager renowned for his tactical nous and ability to galvanize his squad, Athletic have been formidable. Last season's 8th place finish is now a distant memory as they eye a 4th place finish for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Despite the slender one-point lead over Atlético Madrid in 5th, Athletic's form and confidence suggest they are well-placed to maintain their position.

The road to the Copa del Rey final has been a testament to Athletic's resilience and quality. Their journey included victories over Rubí, Cayón, Eibar, Alaves, a notable win against Barcelona, and a semifinal triumph over Atlético Madrid. These victories not only showcased their ability to perform under pressure but also highlighted the depth and talent within the squad.

Key to Athletic's success has been the Williams brothers, Iñaki and Nico, whose pace and skill on the wings have terrorised defences across Spain. Nico, at just 21, has emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after talents, already a full Spanish international with a bright future ahead.

On the other side, Mallorca's journey to the final has been equally compelling, though for different reasons. The club, currently 15th in La Liga with 31 points from 30 games, have faced a challenging league campaign. After an impressive 9th place finish last season, expectations were high, but this year has seen a struggle for consistency. Sitting just six points clear of the relegation zone, Mallorca's focus in the league has been on survival. However, their Copa del Rey campaign has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season.

Mallorca's route to the final, while deemed easier than Athletic's, included significant victories over Girona and Real Sociedad, the latter via a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. These wins not only demonstrated Mallorca's capability to rise to the occasion but also highlighted the team's unity and determination.

Mallorca's strength lies in their collective effort rather than individual brilliance. Players like goalkeeper Dominik Greif and striker Vedat Muriqi have been instrumental, but it's the team's overall cohesion and work rate, fostered by manager Javier Aguirre, that have propelled them to the final.

The 2003 Copa del Rey winners, Mallorca, are aiming to replicate their crowning achievement by securing a second title. This ambition is bolstered by their underdog status, which could play in their favour as they look to upset the odds against a formidable Athletic side.

The head-to-head record between the two teams in recent encounters suggests a tightly contested match. With Athletic Club winning the most recent league meeting 4-0 just two months ago, Mallorca will be keen to avenge that loss and prove their worth on the biggest stage.

Athletic Club, with a history steeped in success and a 40-year drought in this competition, are hungry to add a 24th Copa del Rey crown to their trophy cabinet. Having been losing finalists twice in the last four seasons, and five times since the 2008-09 campaign, their determination to triumph is palpable.

Mallorca, on the other hand, carry the hopes of a team and a fanbase eager to relive the glory of 2003. Their journey to the final, marked by resilience and team spirit, has been a beacon of hope in a challenging season.

Athletic Club Team News

Yuri Berchiche is highly unlikely to make it here as he battles with a muscle injury while the inclusion of Aitor Paredes, Ander Herrera and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta is doubtful.Young attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet has not enjoyed the season he would have liked but he may be given a chance to start in the middle here.

Mallorca Team News

Dani Rodriguez returned to the matchday squad at the weekend following a period on the sidelines with injury but was an unused substitute. He'll be hopeful of game time here, but that will likely come off the bench.Captain Antonio Raíllo faces a race against time to make this game after once again missing out at the weekend, while Martin Valjent looks fairly likely to miss out at this point.

Athletic Club are coming into this game in excellent shape having had an outstanding second half of the season. The Basque side are coming into this game having won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games, the most recent of which was a narrow defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.

Prior to that, Ernesto Valverde's men embarked upon a four matches unbeaten run as they secured 2-0 wins over Alaves and Las Palmas which were preceded by a 0-0 draw against Barcelona and a 3-0 win over Atlético Madrid in the semi-final of this competition.

Striker Gorka Guruzeta has been in outstanding form during this period, as he enters this game having notched six goals in his last six games for the club.

Mallorca's form has been pretty solid lately too, as they come into this game having won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games. Their latest outing was a 0-0 draw away at Valencia in the league, a decent result for a side in their predicament.

The point in Valencia followed a 1-0 win over Granada, thanks to Raíllo's 85th-minute winner, which was preceded by a 1-0 defeat away at Barcelona, a 1-0 win over Girona and the penalty shootout win over Real Sociedad (which came in light of a 1-1 draw).

Athletic Club are the strong favourites to win this game and it feels likely they'll live up to that tag. Mallorca, though, are not to be underestimated, but they're potentially missing their captain here and having already lost heavily to Athletic Club only two months ago it's unlikely that they'll be able to upset a side that has significantly more quality than they do. We predict: Athletic Club 2-0 Mallorca.

Athletic Club vs Mallorca will be available to watch on the Peacock Network (An NBC live-streaming Platform)