Mallorca handed Tenerife Cup clash

Real Mallorca were yesterday handed a potentially tricky draw against second division league leaders Tenerife for the third round of the Copa del Rey. The news prompted the typical Spanish football response from Mallorca director Joan Frontera who said: “They are a very complicated rival.” In more descriptive terms Frontera went on to say that the Canary Island club “was not one of the more reasonable clubs to be drawn against” and that “Tenerife are in great form at the moment after eliminating league champions Deportivo. “In all practicalities we are facing a Primera Liga club,” added Frontera. The Cup returns to the usual two-legged affair for the third round with Tenerife hosting the first leg on Wednesday. Mallorca coach Luis Aragones, who lifted the Cup three times when in charge of Atletico Madrid, will be stressing to his players the importance of a solid first leg performance and to put out of their minds their last jaunt to the Canaries. Mallorca's most recent league defeat was to Tenerife's island neighbours Las Palmas way back in mid-November when they were beaten 1-0. The team face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and will fly directly to Tenerife on Monday to prepare for the game. The return leg at Son Moix is scheduled for either the 16th or 17th of this month. Segunda B hopefuls Gimnastica Torrelavega were handed the toughest tie of the Cup against Barcelona. Gimnastica, who defeated top flight sides Alaves and Las Palmas in the opening two rounds, take on the Catalan giants also on Wednesday.