Mallorca seek Copa del Rey revenge against Alcoyano after 21 years

RCD Mallorca returns to the scene of one of its most bitter nights in the Copa del Rey. The Balearic side, currently sixth in the Segunda División table with 18 points, will face Alcoyano in the tournament's first round, 21 years after a traumatic elimination at El Collao.

The 4-1 defeat on October 20, 2005, when Héctor Cúper's Mallorca played in the top flight, triggered the manager's dismissal and the return of Gregorio Manzano. The special correspondent at the time described the performance as that of a "humble Alcoyano" that "shames Héctor Cúper's men". That team, with Miquel Àngel Moyà in goal, could only score through Yoshito Okubo, while the hosts sealed a rout with goals from Parrado, Mesa and a double from Antoñana.

A new context

Now, under the guidance of Luis García Fernández, Mallorca approaches the match in a different reality, recently relegated from the top tier but with solid league form. The team arrives with a run of two wins, two draws and one loss in its last five games, after drawing 1-1 with Eibar last weekend. In that draw on Saturday 17 October, Adrián Fuentes scored for Mallorca in the 52nd minute, though Iván Gil equalised from the penalty spot in added time. Their next league fixture is against Leganés, who sit 17th in the table, on Saturday 24 October, but first they must handle this single-leg tie, the exact date and time of which has yet to be confirmed by the Federation.

The subsequent head-to-head offers some solace, as Mallorca has already exacted revenge in the cup. In the 2017-18 season, already in the second division, the team won 0-2 at El Collao with goals from Abdón and Lago Junior. The Balearic side has played 22 official matches against Alcoyano throughout its history. With forward Adrián Fuentes as the season's top scorer with six goals, the objective is clear: avoid another stumble and progress in the competition. Fuentes, who also scored in the 3-1 win over Las Palmas on 11 October, is a key part of an attack that has scored twelve league goals.

The match is a test of concentration for a team that has conceded only five goals in ten league matches, giving them a goal difference of +7. Luis García Fernández's squad will aim to close the 2005 chapter and write a new one on their Copa del Rey journey.

This story first appeared at RCD Mallorca.es