A penalty prevented Andratx from eliminating Sevilla in the Copa del Rey two seasons ago. On a historic night for the modest Mallorcan team, a shot a few centimeters above the crossbar prevented a feat that until then they had not even dared to dream of. The Andritxoles took an entire Champions team to the penalty shootout.
It was a unique night. Living history not only for the team, but for the entire town. “It will take many years to experience a match like this again,” was the most heard comment in Sa Plana at the end of the match. Well, two years later, a similar story will be experienced again in Andratx. Now, before Real Sociedad, another Champions team.
It is already a milestone to have reached this point again. There is no doubt. But the team led by José Contreras does not want to settle for facing one of the teams in the best shape at the moment in all of Europe. He wants to go back to compete face to face, as he did against Sevilla. He wants, why not, to go one step further from that historic night of December 15, 2021.
He wants, be careful with this, to continue his love affair with the Copa del Rey. Because, as Andritxole fans repeat these days around town, has never been lost at home in the competition. The cup debut came in 1979, with a 2-1 win against Sóller (a match, by the way, in which the illustrious sports leader Mateu Alemany was the scorer of the winning goal). Since then, there have been five more parliamentary matches in the competition in Sa Plana, with 2 victories (against Oviedo two seasons ago and against Tarazona in this previous round) and 3 draws (against Ciudadela, against Constancia – both teams from the islands). and the one mentioned against Sevilla).
Consolidated growth
To get here, Andratx has had to live through the best period since its founding in 1957. A golden period that has a lot to do with the landing of Rafa Ribot in the presidency, together with its management team, in 2016. Since then, for a club whose main objective was always to be promoted to the Third Division (and, when achieved, to try to maintain the category, something rarely achieved), those heights remained small. .
They were promoted to Third in the 18-19 campaign. And he became Regional Preferential champion. First time the title was obtained. That same year the other figure appeared without whom this golden era that the club is going through could not be understood: José Contreras, his coach.
After a year in which only the Covid break prevented the best classification in the history of CE Andratx in the Third Division, in the 20-21 season the team achieved an unthinkable rise to the Second Federation. A category in which he had never competed.
It was a brilliant year. Despite all the difficulties, the team performed well in its debut in the fourth category of Spanish football. A difficult final stretch ended with the team relegating, but with the feeling that it had been carried out a magnificent campaign. Even more so if we add the Copa del Rey: elimination of Oviedo in the first round, and defeat in the penalty shootout against Sevilla.
Upon returning to Tercera there was the fear that this was already an outdated project. That the top had been reached, and now it was time to go down again. Towards the place that had always belonged to the club. And it was to a certain extent logical. Nothing could be further from the truth. Once again, and despite the departure of great players, it was right again, and the team completed another return to the Second Federation. And how Third Division champion for the first time in its history. Incredible.
And in this 23-24 campaign it cannot be said that things are not going well. With 14 matchdays played, the team is now in sixth position, 1 point from the promotion playoff and 4 from relegation. AND repeating golden path in the Copa del Rey. Aragon’s Tarazona was eliminated (3-2) in the first round, and tonight it’s time to dream about Real Sociedad again.
A tight template
Few members of that epic night against Sevilla are still on the team. They are, yes, a key piece. We talk about the goalkeeper, Vincent Sabaterand of the two most important footballers
loved by the fans, the two andritxolsthe representation of the people in this unrepeatable team: Gerardo Bonetthe lung of the team, and Miquel Llabrésthe author of the wonderful free-kick against Sevilla, and who this year has returned after his time at Mallorca last season.
They have been joined by veteran footballers, with experience in top categories, such as Kevin Garcia (who already knows what it’s like to beat Real Sociedad) or By Aveldaño, formerly Mallorca, Tenerife or Racing Club de Avellaneda among others. And young talents, in the case of Javi Castedo, Miquel Jaume, Ordinas, Juanca, or Garrido, the top scorer of last season in Tercera and author of the goal that gave the classification to be able to experience this magical night today.
It would be unfair not to name them all. A compendium of experience and youth, of experience and enthusiasm, of illustrious names and local people… A longer template, which allows greater variations, compared to the one available two seasons ago. And above all, he has made the blue fans more excited than ever.
Tickets sold out almost immediately. And that the capacity has expanded to almost double than usual in sa Plana.
Everything ready to live a special afternoon. A day in which a modest team, from a small but ambitious town, will measure itself to a giant of Spanish and European football. To a Real Sociedad that is going to have to bring out its best version, the one that is wowing everyone this season, to succeed.
A day that Andratx dared to dream about two seasons ago. That they believed they would never repeat again. And that this same afternoon, starting at 4 p.m., will live again. What audacity of this CE Andratx…
2023-12-05 17:34:45
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