The rivalry between RCD Mallorca and CD Atlético Baleares, known as the Palma derby (Catalan: derbi palmesà, Spanish: derbi palmesano), is the derby between the main football clubs based in Palma de Mallorca (Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain).

Palma derby
Derbi palmesà (in Catalan)
Derbi palmesano (in Spanish)
LocationPalma de Mallorca Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
TeamsRCD Mallorca
CD Atlético Baleares
First meetingRS Alfonso XIII FC 2–1 Baleares FC
Friendly
(13 March 1921)
Latest meetingRCD Mallorca 3–2 CD Atlético Baleares
Segunda División B, group III
(21 January 2018)
StadiumsVisit Mallorca Stadium
(RCD Mallorca)
Estadi Balear
(CD Atlético Baleares)
Statistics
Meetings total83
Most winsRCD Mallorca (47)

History

edit

Both clubs are, by far, the oldest in the capital of the Balearic Islands (the rest were founded from the mid-1960s) and have known an intense rivalry since the 1920s, due to the social, economical, and political differences between their respective founders. While RCD Mallorca (then called Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII FC after King Alfonso XIII) was led by the local upper class, who favoured the Spanish state, CD Atlético Baleares (then called Baleares FC) was known as the club of the local working class and was formed by Republicans.[1] This character is very diluted at present and both clubs are much more heterogeneous than in the beginning, but the foundational character is still very present when defining the rivalry between the supporter groups.

Their rivalry has remained very alive at street level, despite being clubs at very different sporting levels from the 1960s onwards - and especially since the 1980s, when Mallorca made a significant improvement and became a regular in the Primera and Segunda Division, while Atlético Baleares remained in the lower Segunda Division B and Tercera División.[2]

The first edition of the Palma derby took place on the 13th of March 1921, between the second team of Alfonso XIII and the first of Baleares in the stadium of Bons Aires, property of Alfonso XIII. The match ended early because of a pitch battle between players and the public when Alfonso XIII was winning by 2 goals to 1.[3][4][5]

The rivalry has remained alive for more than a century despite the name changes of the two clubs. RCD Mallorca has been known as RS Alfonso XIII FC (1916-1931), CD Mallorca (1931-1949) and RCD Mallorca (since 1949). CD Atlético Baleares, on the other hand, has been known as Baleares FC (1920-1942), CD Atlético-Baleares (1942-1943), and CD Atlético Baleares (since 1943). The latter club is called CE Atlètic Balears in the local Mallorcan dialect of Catalan.[1]

At insular level, for a time two clubs shared rivalry with a third team: CE Constància from the neighboring town of Inca, especially until the 1960s. In the other islands of the Balearic archipelago, the main rivals were SD Ibiza (from Ibiza, the capital of the Pityusic Islands) and UD Mahón (from Mahón, the capital of Menorca). The aforementioned rise in sporting achievement that RCD Mallorca lived from the 1960s reduced all these rivalries to a minimum, except the one with Atlético Baleares.

The last derby, played in 2018 in Segunda División B, aroused great excitement and showed that the rivalry is still very much alive.[6]

League matches

edit

Only clashes between first teams are listed. Therefore, the confrontations of Atlético Baleares against the RCD Mallorca subsidiaries (first Mallorca Atlético and currently RCD Mallorca B) are not included.

Season Category Stadium Home Team Score Away Team Comments
1923–24 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC 4 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 0 – 1 RS Alfonso XIII FC
1924–25 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC 1 – 0 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 0 RS Alfonso XIII FC
1925–26 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 2 RS Alfonso XIII FC
Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC Baleares FC It was not disputed when the competition was split mid-season. Baleares FC left the Balearic Federation
1926–27 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 0 – 1 RS Alfonso XIII FC
Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC 3 – 0 Baleares FC
1927–28 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca It was not disputed when the competition was split before the season began. RS Alfonso XIII FC left the Balearic Federation
1928–29 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 3 RS Alfonso XIII FC
Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC 2 – 0 Baleares FC
1929–30 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 0 – 4 RS Alfonso XIII FC
Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC 4 – 1 Baleares FC
1930–31 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires RS Alfonso XIII FC 2 – 0 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 0 RS Alfonso XIII FC
1931–32 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 1 CD Mallorca
1932–33 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 4 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 1 CD Mallorca
1933–34 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 0 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 1 Baleares FC
1934–35 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 0 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 0 – 2 Baleares FC
1935–36 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 2 – 2 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 0 CD Mallorca
1936–37 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 7 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 4 CD Mallorca
1937–38 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 2 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 1 CD Mallorca
1938–39 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca CD Mallorca did not compete this season to have much of the workforce mobilized in Spanish Civil War
1939–40 Campeonato Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 4 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 3 – 0 Baleares FC
1940–41 Primera Regional de Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 2 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 3 CD Mallorca
1941–42 Primera Regional de Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 2 – 3 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 0 Baleares FC
1942–43 Primera Regional de Mallorca Son Canals At. Baleares 3 – 3 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 6 – 1 At. Baleares
1943–44 Tercera División, group IV Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 1 At. Baleares
Son Canals At. Baleares 0 – 2 CD Mallorca
1948–49 Tercera División, group III Es Fortí CD Mallorca 2 – 1 At. Baleares
Son Canals At. Baleares 2 – 0 CD Mallorca
1951–52 Segunda División, group II Son Canals At. Baleares 0 – 2 RCD Mallorca
Es Fortí RCD Mallorca 2 – 0 At. Baleares
1952–53 Segunda División, group II Es Fortí RCD Mallorca 1 – 1 At. Baleares
Son Canals At. Baleares 1 – 1 RCD Mallorca
1954–55 Tercera División, group VIII Es Fortí RCD Mallorca 3 – 2 At. Baleares
Son Canals At. Baleares 1 – 2 RCD Mallorca
1955–56 Tercera División, group VIII Son Canals At. Baleares 3 – 2 RCD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 2 – 2 At. Baleares
1956–57 Tercera División, group VIII Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 1 – 1 At. Baleares
Son Canals At. Baleares 0 – 3 RCD Mallorca
1957–58 Tercera División, group VIII Son Canals At. Baleares 1 – 2 RCD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 1 – 1 At. Baleares
1958–59 Tercera División, group VIII Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 1 – 0 At. Baleares
Son Canals At. Baleares 0 – 0 RCD Mallorca
1975–76 Tercera División, group III Estadi Balear At. Baleares 3 – 1 RCD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 0 – 0 At. Baleares
1976–77 Tercera División, group III Estadi Balear At. Baleares 2 – 0 RCD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 1 – 1 At. Baleares
1977–78 Segunda División B, group II Estadi Balear At. Baleares 2 – 1 RCD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 1 – 0 At. Baleares
1978–79 Tercera División, group V Estadi Balear At. Baleares 0 – 0 RCD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 2 – 1 At. Baleares
1979–80 Tercera División, group VIII Estadi Balear At. Baleares 0 – 2 CD Mallorca
Lluís Sitjar RCD Mallorca 1 – 1 At. Baleares
2017–18 Segunda División B, group III Son Malferit At. Baleares 0 – 0 RCD Mallorca
Son Moix RCD Mallorca 3 – 2 At. Baleares

Copa del Rey

edit

Only clashes between first teams are listed. Therefore, the confrontations of Atlético Baleares against the RCD Mallorca subsidiaries (first Mallorca Atlético and currently RCD Mallorca B) are not included.

Season Stadium Round Home Team Score Away Team Comments
1948–49 Es Fortí 1st round CD Mallorca 1 – 0 At. Baleares Single match
1986–87 Estadi Balear Round of 32 At. Baleares 2 – 4 RCD Mallorca Single match

Other tournaments

edit

Only clashes between first teams are listed. Therefore, the confrontations of Atlético Baleares against the RCD Mallorca subsidiaries (first Mallorca Atlético and currently RCD Mallorca B) are not included.

Season Tournament Stadium Round Home Team Score Away Team Comments
1921 Copa Ayuntamiento de Palma Bons Aires Single round RS Alfonso XIII FC 4 – 0 Baleares FC Competition organized by Palma City Council
1933–34 Copa Presidente de la República Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 3 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 4 – 0 Baleares FC
1934–35 Copa Presidente de la República Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 3 – 3 CD Mallorca
1935–36 Copa Presidente de la República Son Canals Baleares FC 0 – 0 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 1 Baleares FC
1937–38 Liga Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 0 – 6 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca Baleares FC Suspended by withdrawal of the CD Mallorca from the competition
1939–40 Liga Mallorca Bons Aires CD Mallorca 1 – 1 Baleares FC
Son Canals Baleares FC 1 – 5 CD Mallorca
1940–41 Liga Mallorca Son Canals Baleares FC 0 – 6 CD Mallorca
Bons Aires CD Mallorca 5 – 1 Baleares FC
1952–53 Copa RFEF Es Fortí 2nd round RCD Mallorca 4 – 2 Baleares FC
Son Canals 2nd round Baleares FC 1 – 1 RCD Mallorca
1971 Nicolau Brondo Trophy Estadi Balear Single match At. Baleares 0 – 1 RCD Mallorca
1972 Nicolau Brondo Trophy Estadi Balear Single match At. Baleares 1 – 4 RCD Mallorca
1984 Nicolau Brondo Trophy Estadi Balear Single match At. Baleares 0 – 1 RCD Mallorca
1985 Nicolau Brondo Trophy Estadi Balear Single match At. Baleares 1 – 2 RCD Mallorca
1993 Friendly Estadi Balear Single match At. Baleares 0 – 6 RCD Mallorca Commemoration 50 years merger CD Atlético Baleares
1994 Nicolau Brondo Trophy Estadi Balear Single match At. Baleares 1 – 1 (*) RCD Mallorca
2008 Illes Balears Trophy Bintaufa, Mahón Semi-finals RCD Mallorca 4 – 2 At. Baleares

(*) RCD Mallorca won on penalties.

Bibliography

edit
  • Amengual Salas, Vicenç (2021). Orsai: L'Atlètic Balears. Entre la sociologia i el futbol [Orsai. Atlètic Balears. Between sociology and football] (in Catalan). Palma: Illa Edicions. ISBN 978-84-122255-4-9.
  • Borchers, Liam (2023). The Story of Atlètic Balears. Groningen: Lulu. ISBN 978-1-4717-4271-2.
  • García Gargallo, Manuel (2018). Campeonatos regionales de Baleares. Orígenes y desarrollo 1900-1940 [Regional championships of the Balearic Islands. Origins and evolution 1900-1940] (in Spanish). Oviedo: CIHEFE. ISBN 978-84-948698-6-0.
  • García Gargallo, Manuel (2013). Els orígens de l'Atlètic Balears (1920-1942). Dels inicis a la fusió [The origins of Atlètic Balears (1920-1942): From the beginnings to the fusion] (in Catalan). Barcelona: Lulu.
  • García Gargallo, Manuel (2020). L'Atlètic Balears (1920-1942): Els primers anys d'una entitat centenària [Atlètic Balears (1920-1942): The first years of a centenary entity] (in Catalan). Palma: Documenta Balear. ISBN 978-84-18441-08-0.
  • Pasamontes, Juan Carlos (2005). R.S. Alfonso XIII. La cara oculta del Real CD Mallorca. 1916-1931 [R.S. Alfonso XIII. The hidden face of Real CD Mallorca. 1916-1931] (in Spanish). Palma: Edicions Cort. ISBN 84-89034-81-8.
  • Ramis Fernández, Xesc (2017). El derbi de Palma. Historia de una rivalidad vecinal [The Palma derby. The history of a rivalry between neighbours] (in Spanish).
  • Salas Fuster, Antoni (2009). L'Atlètic Baleares. Una història de supervivència [Atlètic Balears. A history of survival] (in Catalan). Palma: Ingrama SA. ISBN 978-84-85932-78-8. DL 272-2009.
  • Vidal Perelló, Miquel; Vidal Reynés, Jordi (2005). Història del RCD Mallorca (1916-2004) [History of RCD Mallorca (1916-2004)] (in Catalan). Palma: Documenta Balear. ISBN 84-96376-16-8.
  • Vidal Perelló, Miquel; Vidal Reynés, Jordi (2016). Un siglo con el RCD Mallorca 1916-2016 [A century with RCD Mallorca 1916-2016] (in Spanish). Palma: Comisión Centenario del Real Mallorca. ISBN 978-84-608-7936-7.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Borchers, Liam (2023). The Story of Atlètic Balears. Groningen: Lulu. ISBN 978-1-4717-4271-2.
  2. ^ "El Atlético Baleares, patrimonio del fútbol balear (y mallorquín)". Cuadernos de Fútbol (CIHEFE), nº 76 (in Spanish). 1 May 2016. ISSN 1989-6379.
  3. ^ "Mallorca vs. At. Balears: una rivalitat de classes". Ara Balears (in Catalan). 22 June 2019.
  4. ^ "En los cien años del primer derbi Baleares-Mallorca". Cuadernos de Fútbol (CIHEFE), nº 129 (in Spanish). 1 March 2021. ISSN 1989-6379.
  5. ^ "Una rivalidad centenaria". Última Hora (in Spanish). 12 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Real Mallorca v Atlético Baleares: the derby that disappeared for 37 years". The Guardian. 4 April 2018.