Athletic Bilbao ended a 40-year wait for the Copa del Rey title by defeating Real Mallorca 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 extra-time draw on Saturday. The Basque side defeated lowly Mallorca at Seville’s Estadio Katuja to lift the trophy for the 24th time, trailing only Barcelona, ​​who have won the title 31 times. Dani Rodriguez gave Mallorca the lead in the first half, but Oihan Sancet equalized shortly after the break and the tie went to penalties. Only then can the winner be determined.

Atlético goalkeeper Julen Aguirrezabala saved Manu Moranes’ penalty and Mallorca’s Nemanja Radonjic hit the crossbar for Atlético Converting all four goals into wins.

Alex Berenguer scored the winning penalty, sparking wild celebrations from the Basque fans.

Ernesto Valverde’s Atlético have reached the final six times before but ended with a hard-fought victory to end an era that was all but over.

After beating Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to reach the final, the Los Angeles Lions secured the club’s first major trophy since the 1984 domestic league and cup double.

“It’s incredible, we made history,” man of the match Nico Williams told TVE.

“The team has worked hard and the fans have been with us, they deserve it and I have dreamed of this for a long time.”

Atlético’s players celebrated on a boat called the “Gabarra” after their last win and will now have the chance to launch the barge again next week.

“I’m very excited about it, I’m very happy, this is the club of my life,” added the Spanish winger, who had been teasing Mallorca with his dribbling all night.

Mallorca, the 2003 champions, started the game stronger, with target man Vidat Muriqi’s long-range shot inconclusively saved by Aguirre Zabala.

In the fourth final, the Islanders took the lead after 21 minutes on Rodriguez’s perfect shot.

After Giovanni Gonzalez’s shot was blocked and Jose Coppet’s shot was saved, Rodriguez gingerly fired the ball into the top corner past Athletic’s Danny Way Vian.

Nico’s night

When Los Leones did create any chances, it came through the excellent Nico Williams, who scored after 39 minutes but was ruled out for offside.

Yuri Berchiche did well to parry Kopet’s shot and Mallorca had their second before Nico Williams broke through the area and fired into the side netting.

Aguirre Zabala thwarted Canada international Cair Larin early in the second half before Athletic equalized.

Nico Williams was again actively involved, sending the ball into the box for Sansette to delight Athletic’s raucous away support, past Mallorca goalkeeper Dominic Greve.

Nico Williams almost gave the Basques the lead with a brilliant dribble, but his cross flicked past the legs of his brother Inaki Williams and the Ghana international failed to react in time. Complete the shot.

Greve beat a Vivian piledriver in the final seconds and Gorka Guruzeta headed just wide, but the two teams could not decide the winner before overtime.

Nico Williams’ shot from close range was blocked by a lunging Pablo Maffeo after 111 minutes.

At the other end, Aguirre Zabala cautiously cleared away Muric’s header, with the Kosovar striker wearing a large bandage after a painful head-to-head collision with Unai Gomez.

The ensuing penalty shootout was even more painful for Muric, who converted the penalty but his teammates failed to follow suit.

“I’m excited because I’m so proud of my teammates and the fans that came here,” Rodriguez told TVE.

“It was my dream to lift this trophy and we worked hard until the end.”

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