Mallorca vs Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao
vs
Sunday 3rd January 2010
Venue: ONO Estadi
Kick-off: 18:00
Score: 2 - 0
Mallorca maintain home form to go fourth
Mallorca preserved their unblemished home record with a fine 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Primera Division and moved up to fourth place in the table after 16 rounds of the championship.
After Barcelona saw their perfect home record come to an end with a 1-1 draw against Villarreal on Saturday night, Real Madrid and Mallorca were the only teams left with perfect home records still intact in the top flight.
The islanders had won all seven of their previous league matches at Son Moix prior to this one.
But that record was set for a severe test against Bilbao, with the Basques having won their last three matches on the road.
The visitors proved hard to break down in a goalless first half, but Mallorca took control in the second period, running out winners thanks to goals from Julio Alvarez and Aritz Aduriz.
The hosts came into this match in the knowledge that a victory would propel them into a top four place for the first time this season, after Sevilla had lost at Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
But Athletic, also on form before the winter break, began the day just a point behind Gregorio Manzano's side.
And they looked good in an evenly-fought first half.
Mallorca had the edge, though, after a slow start to the game and created the best two chances of the half.
Former Athletic striker Aduriz came close after 36 minutes when he sent a fierce angled drive spinning just wide of the target.
The Basque forward threatened again minutes later, but this time saw his bullet header brilliantly parried by Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.
Iraizoz could do nothing to prevent Mallorca from taking the lead three minutes into the second half though.
The Athletic goalkeeper was wrong-footed as Alvarez's speculative effort from the edge of the box which deflected off Andoni Iraola and into the net.
Iraizoz then saved from Aduriz once more as Mallorca sought to double their advantage straight away.
The home side were dominant now and Iraizoz produced another fine save to deny the lively Aduriz.
But Athletic almost levelled after 66 minutes when Fernando Llorente saw his header cleared off the line by Josemi.
Football is so often about moments, however, and just a minute after that, Mallorca went two up.
Aduriz's persistence was finally rewarded and the Basque striker beat Iraizoz with a clinical close-range effort with the aid of a slight deflection.
Athletic had been unlucky in that respect, but Mallorca were good for their lead and Gonzalo Castro could have added a third late on when his blistering drive was kept out by the busy Iraizoz.
There was no way back for Athletic, who are now eighth, but remain in a good position just four points adrift of the top four, where Mallorca now sit proudly, largely thanks to their perfect home record.
