I Am Jose

For this match, Mallorca's players were brimming with confidence. After two consecutive dominant victories over the previous third-place team, they had developed a mindset—Whoever is in third place, we can take them down. It wasn't entirely rational, but in football, such belief often led to better performances and a stronger sense of self-assurance.

"Since everyone says we're the third-place slayers, let's take down another third-place team and prove it!"

Celta Vigo? So what? A team full of renowned players? Just a bunch of aging veterans. Right now, our performance is far better than theirs!

As both teams stepped onto the pitch, the Mallorca fans in the stands erupted in cheers for their heroes. Even though they saw them up close every home game, they never tired of celebrating their team.

Both sides boasted some of La Liga's top attacking combinations. Mallorca's attacking trident of Luque, Eto'o, and Ronaldinho was formidable, while Celta had Catanha, Jesuli, and Gustavo López, all well-known names in Spanish football. This clash between two high-scoring teams attracted significant attention—after all, Spanish fans loved fast-paced, goal-filled matches.

In the past, Mallorca had little appeal outside their local fanbase. They were known for playing some of the most uninspiring football, even during their UEFA Cup-winning season. But starting last season, they had steadily changed that perception. While their attack wasn't reckless or exceptionally beautiful, they consistently scored goals and often produced moments of brilliance—exactly the kind of football Spanish fans adored.

Celta, on the other hand, had long been known for attacking football. Despite fluctuating performances over the years, they remained a team associated with exciting play—who could forget their legendary 5-1 thrashing of Real Madrid in the '90s? Because of these factors, Spanish television chose this match for live broadcast, and neither team disappointe.

From the opening whistle, both teams went on the offensive.

José didn't want Mallorca engaging in an open, back-and-forth shootout. He emphasized maintaining defensive stability and midfield control. Still, with attacking full-backs like Capdevila and George supporting the forward line, Mallorca's offensive presence matched Celta's full-throttle approach.

Luque, in scorching form recently, was closely marked but continued to create chances with intelligent movement. Given his status as Mallorca's most in-form player, Celta naturally focused their defensive efforts on him.

This inadvertently left Eto'o with more space. Last season's top scorer for Mallorca, Eto'o had struggled somewhat this campaign. The shift in Mallorca's tactics played a role—last season, they relied more on counter-attacks, which suited Eto'o's speed. But with the team playing a more aggressive attacking style, space was harder to come by, making him less effective. So far, he had only scored five league goals, and during Luque's incredible 12-match scoring streak, he had netted just twice. Frustration was building.