Mallorca hoping for “reasonable opponents”

Xerez failed to find giant-killing form on Wednesday night as Real Mallorca beat the Cadiz-based Segunda B team 3-0 to advance to the last sixteen of the Copa del Rey (Spanish F.A. Cup). Mallorca were back in Palma last night training at Son Moix with coach Luis Aragones hoping for a “reasonable opponent” when the draw is made for the next round this morning. Along with Mallorca still in the Cup are seven other Primera Liga clubs, five Segunda (second division) clubs and three Segunda B (third division) clubs. The Cup has been blown wide open with the first three in the league being knocked out. Real Madrid were defeated by Toledo in the first round, while league champions Deportivo went down to second division leaders Tenerife on Wednesday and Valencia suffered a humiliating penalties loss to Guadix of the Segunda B also on Wednesday. Mallorca 'keeper Leo Franco was non-committal about who he would prefer to face in the next round. “At this level most of the teams will be difficult, although a two-legged match is a lot different to one single match.” Franco was referring to the fact that the Cup returns to it's usual format in the next round with a home and away match instead of the single match utilised in the first two rounds. Striker Albert Luque, who received a nasty knock to his left knee during Wednesday's match, wanted to face Atletico Madrid, “because it is a team I always like to play against.” Midfielder Vincente Engonga, though, had more sentimental reasons behind his choice of opponent; Gimnastica de Torrelavega who knocked out Las Palmas in the second round. Engonga spent the first two years of his career with the Segunda B side.