28/08/2013 00:00
TW
0

REAL Mallorca will run out at the Bernabeu tonight in the second leg of the Supor Cup against Real Madrid knowing that they have caused the wonderboys the most heart ache over the past two years. Mallorca won Sunday night's first leg 2-1 and the last time the two sides were in Madrid, Mallorca crushed the champions 5-1 In fact, Real Mallorca have scored more points against Madrid than any other team over the past two seasons.
Last year Mallorca won both meetings, 2-0 and then 5-1, in the 2001/2002 season, the sides drew 0-0 and then 1-1.
Madrid will want to shake off the Majorcan jinx tonight, but they also have a lot to prove as they make their debut appearance before the home crowd.
Ariel Ibagaza who so finely orchestrated Mallorca's win on Sunday is still with the club and, as far as he is concerned, playing tonight.
Yesterday he said that an early goal for Mallorca will seriously upset Madrid and force them into taking desperate action. “We've got to play intelligently and make the most of all or any opportunities we get,” he said yesterday. “It's going to be difficult to win the Super Cup at the Bernabeu, we're up against a great team, but if we keep focused and play with the same attitude as on Sunday night, we could well bring home the cup,” the Argentine international set for an imminent move to Atletico Madrid said. However, he said that he knows nothing about his transfer “nobody's told me anything, I still consider myself a Mallorca player, if I go to Atletico, so be it, but if not, I've got a year left on my contract with Mallorca and I'll play that out,” he said. But he is aware that tonight's game could well be his last for Mallorca. Atletico claim the four year transfer deal is done and Mallorca are very close to signing Argentinian Riquelme from Barcelona as Ibagaza's replacement. “It's a good signing,” Ibagaza who arrived in 1998 with Hector Cuper said “he needs to play football and Mallorca will offer him a great many opportunities.” For Ibagaza winning the Super Cup tonight will be a fitting end to his career with Real Mallorca.
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