Athletic Club vs RCD Mallorca, Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 06/04/2024
Calendar icon Published 05 Apr 20:41

Athletic Club vs RCD Mallorca, Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 06/04/2024

Kai Edvard Iliev Kai Edvard Iliev

Odds via Tonybet

Athletic Club vs RCD MallorcaApril 6, 2024, 4:00 PM EDT
Athletic Club odds-154
RCD Mallorca odds+480
Draw+290
Over\Under2.5 -139 

Athletic Club vs RCD Mallorca. Shape of the Teams

The Copa Del Rey is full of surprises each year. The recent switch to single-leg ties up to the quarterfinals has increased the unpredictability in the past years, ultimately making the tournament more fun. 

This year’s edition has been no exception, with giants toppling early in the tournament. Athletic Club first eliminated Barcelona with a 4-2 victory before humbling Atlético de Madrid in a stunning 4-0 rout.

The ties became two-legged from the semifinals, but this did not stop Mallorca from surprising the country by eliminating Real Sociedad via a nail-biting penalty shootout.

The final will be played in Spain’s mythical stadium of La Cartuja and will feature two teams that are mostly unknown abroad. However, they are no strangers to La Liga aficionados. Athletic Club has reemerged as a major force since Ernesto Valverde’s return, often making things hard for the league’s elites in this tournament and the domestic league. 

However, Mallorca, placed 15th under Aguirre’s guidance, was not tipped to make it this far. To their credit, they eliminated Girona (3-2), the season’s revelation in Spain, on their fairy-tale run to the final.

Intriguingly, despite Athletic Club being comfortably in fourth place and Mallorca teetering at 15th, Mallorca enters the final in finer form. 

This matchup is a close one; Athletic Club has two victories, two defeats, and a draw, while Mallorca edges ahead slightly with two victories, two draws, and one defeat in the tournament.

Athletic Club vs RCD Mallorca Match Info

Athletic Club vs RCD Mallorca Prediction, Odds

Arrogance in knock-out tournaments is rarely a good sign, but Athletic Club has all the chances to lift the trophy on Saturday in La Cartuja. Standing in fourth place, Athletic Club is known for its extraordinary intensity, inducing rivals into costly blunders.

They are used to playing against ambitious opponents and exploiting opposition errors with swift counter-attacks to find the dynamic Nico Williams as a major attacking pattern. Williams has been one of the standout performers of the season, illustrating the potency of straightforward soccer.

Athletic Club also boasts one of the best defensive partnerships in Vivian-Paredes. 

Remarkably, the club still upholds a Basque-only recruitment philosophy, debunking myths that this could never be a successful club. Athletic is thriving in La Liga, currently in fourth place, ahead of Atlético de Madrid. 

The Williams brothers have made headlines with their exceptional talent and athleticism, often starting together this season. The older brother is known for rarely getting injured despite playing game after game, apparently with a tank in his legs. 

Another Athletic Club star, Sancet, has recently been awarded a call-up for Spain’s national team based on his creative efforts at Bilbao. Often supported by Ruiz de La Galarreta, the two form a very intense midfield few teams in Spain have found the answer to.

But this brings us to the following question: What about RCD Mallorca? What explains their presence in the final? The best reply is simple but truthful: Pragmatism. 

Javier Aguirre is known for his pragmatic approach to football. He prefers his team to sit back and wait for the opportunity. Muriqi has been delivering the goods upfront for years, and it has always worked out. 

Although this year’s arrivals have not always greatly changed the group’s dynamics, Mallorca’s strategic patience paid dividends against Girona and Real Sociedad. Their usual passive approach worked out – as these inexperienced teams did not have the required experience to deal with Mallorca’s old-school tactics – by leveraging psychological warfare to their advantage.

Athletic Club vs RCD Mallorca Betting Tip

As previously mentioned, the two finalists arrived at the final through realism: Sucking up the pressure, taking advantage of the opponent’s mistakes, and just waiting for the right moment to attack. 

But what happens when both teams are in the final and are not proactive? Who takes the initiative, and who gets trapped first?

While both teams fall under the reactive flag, Spain will likely see an aggressive Athletic Club. Their relentless pressing should be just enough to suffocate Mallorca. 

Aguirre’s team often struggles against teams that bring the game to them because it is often too passive. This means there is no space to breathe, which leads to mistakes from their defenders. This is especially true on an individual level despite fielding a five-at-the-back.

Another reason to back up the pick is that Nico Williams, with his exceptional athleticism, is the ideal tactical counter. In a way, he represents Valverde’s vision to perfection: a team that runs and keeps on running throughout the game. 

What makes Athletic Club a tricky team is their collective stamina. They never seem to get tired, a trait that most teams can’t keep up with due to a lack of athleticism. If the game ends up in a back-and-forth tussle, the scales tip decidedly in favour of the Basques.

Nico is better at ball striking than his older brother, which could be decisive in the final. This is Nico’s first opportunity to shine on a grand stage amidst whispers of interest from clubs like Arsenal, who see him as a cheaper alternative to Rafael Leão. An XXL performance in the final could turn things around for him. 

Given that Ruiz de la Galarreta is expected to keep everything solid at the back with Prados-Vivian, Mallorca will have to change things up if they finally want to clinch a trophy.

Disclaimer: Odds are accurate at the time of posting and subject to change. Please verify the latest odds on our platform before betting.

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