Athletic Bilbao Vs. Mallorca, 2012 Copa Del Rey Quarterfinals
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona had the spotlight on Wednesday, but Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca were also in action on the other half of the Copa del Rey draw. Athletic, who play Real Madrid in La Liga over the weekend, did not appear to have one eye on that game as they played a full-strength side, holding nothing back in the first leg at San Mames. How they do over the weekend remains to be seen, but that decision was justified on Wednesday when Marcelo Bielsa's men defeated Mallorca 2-0.
Mallorca are now going to have a very difficult time getting to the semifinals after failing to get an away goal. Bilbao were at their finest, with Fernando Llorente scoring in the 35th minute and Iker Muniain adding an insurance goal in the 59th minute. Defender Ander Herrera and workhorse forward Gaizka Toquero came in as late substitutes to kill the game off and did so successfully, denying Mallorca a goal.