Valencia CF might not be top of La Liga, but traveling to Palma de Mallorca to take on minnows Atlético de Baleares had the feel of a top-flight club taking on lower-league competition. Could the boys from the Balearics pull off a Copa del Rey upset? Mark Pulley watched Valencia CF vs Atlético Baleares avidly…
The Copa del Rey saw Valencia CF travel to potential giant-killers Atlético Baleares in their last-16 tie. If you know nothing about their opponents don’t worry, neither did I. Baleares play in a 6,000 all-seater stadium in Majorca, Estadio Balear. They live under RCD Mallorca’s shadow, playing in the newly formed Primera División RFEF, the third tier of Spanish football. So you wouldn’t really expect Valencia CF vs Atlético Baleares to cause any surprises.
Valencia showed respect to their opponents by only making five changes to the team beaten by league leaders Real Madrid the weekend before. So it was no surprise they headed into the game as overwhelming favourites. In fact, before the game you could get odds of up to 15/1 on Baleares causing an upset.
Kick off
There was a carnival feel inside the stadium. A real hope that the Majorcan minnows could slay the 2019 champions and progress into the quarter finals. That precious hope was dashed after just a few seconds. Almost straight from the kick-off, Valencia’s Brazilian striker Marcos André pounced on some defensive dithering, muscling his way through and coolly finishing through the keeper’s legs. The simultaneous groan of 6,000 locals summed up the feeling. The hope had quickly turned to fear about how many goals they might concede.
But as we know football is a game of emotions. Their team gathered their composure and started to get a foothold in the game. A great double save from their keeper Xavier Ginard prevented Valencia from doubling their lead and with it probably putting the tie to bed. They got through to half-time only one goal down. Valencia CF vs Atlético Baleares was not done and dusted just yet.
Could Atlético Baleares cause any surprises in the second half?
The second half, like the majority of the first, was an even affair. Baleares’ big number 9, Vinícius Tanque, should’ve done better when a deep ball from the right wing found him 15 yards out, but the striker couldn’t make contact, and his one chance had gone.
Valencia had a few shots from range but didn’t trouble the keeper at all in the second period.
With the game petering out there was still time for some late drama. Baleares still hadn’t managed to test Valencia’s keeper Doménech. In desperation, striker Dioni decided that instead of holding the ball up and trying to get a shot away, it was a better plan to unashamedly drop to the ground as soon as he felt the breath of the oncoming defender and pray for a penalty. The ref didn’t buy it, though, and swiftly booked Dioni.
It was the last action of a game that Valencia fans will quickly forget. They did the job, won 1-0 and got through to the quarter-finals, but they didn’t impress in doing so. Baleares actually controlled the game. They had 61% possession and made 156 passes more than their top-flight opponents, but they lacked that oh-so important commodity in football – a goalscorer.
With Valencia CF vs Atlético Baleares decided, what’s next for Valencia CF?
The quarter final will take place on the 2nd February. So far Valencia have only played against lower league opponents that most of us La Liga fans have never even heard of. Chances are there will only be the big-boys left from now on, so they’ll need to improve on this performance if they have any hope of getting through to the semis.
As well as covering football and helping edit ‘Valencia Life’, Mark Pulley also writes especially about travel – with a focus on Valencia – at thesketchytraveller.com