Andratx Stuns Second-Place Atlético Baleares Despite Playing a Man Down

PALMA DE MALLORCA — In a result that defied both logic and the league table, Andratx pulled off one of Segunda División RFEF Group 3's most improbable upsets Sunday afternoon, defeating second-place Atlético Baleares 1-0 at Camp Municipal Sa Plana despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men.

The victory, Andratx's first in four matches, came against a Baleares side that had won four of its first five fixtures and entered the day as one of the division's form teams. Instead, it was the hosts — languishing in 11th place and nursing three consecutive defeats — who seized the moment when it mattered most.

The decisive goal arrived in the 55th minute, breaking open a tightly contested affair that had seen both sides struggle to create clear chances in the opening stages. Andratx's breakthrough came at precisely the moment when Baleares appeared to be taking control of possession, a sucker punch that would ultimately define the afternoon.

What followed was a masterclass in defensive resilience under the most adverse circumstances. Just eight minutes after taking the lead, Andratx saw one of their players shown a straight red card in the 63rd minute, leaving them to protect their slender advantage for more than half an hour against a side that had scored 10 goals in its previous three matches.

The numerical disadvantage might have spelled doom for a team that had conceded six goals while losing its last three matches. But Sunday's Andratx bore little resemblance to the side that shipped three goals to Poblense on September 28 or fell 2-1 at Reddis just eight days ago. Instead, they channeled the defensive fortitude that had produced back-to-back 1-0 victories over Sant Andreu and Barcelona B in early September.

For Baleares, the defeat represents a stunning reversal of fortune. The visitors had ridden into Sa Plana on the back of four consecutive victories, including impressive clean-sheet wins over Ibiza Islas Pitiusas and Barbastro in their last two outings. Their attacking prowess had been evident throughout that stretch, with goals flowing freely and defensive solidity to match.

Yet all that momentum evaporated against an Andratx side that had every reason to fold after the red card but instead dug deeper. The manner of defeat will particularly sting for Baleares, who managed just a single goal across 90 minutes despite playing 11-versus-10 for the final third of the match. It was a far cry from the clinical finishing that had characterized their recent run, when they'd found the net in the 55th, 65th, and 90th minutes to secure crucial victories.

The contrast in recent form made the result all the more shocking. While Baleares had climbed to second in the table by grinding out results even when not at their best, Andratx had been in freefall. Their three-match losing streak had seen them tumble down the standings, their promising start — which included that memorable 2-1 victory over Barcelona B in mid-September — becoming a distant memory.

Sunday's triumph lifts Andratx to seven points from six matches, still firmly in the bottom half but now with renewed belief. For a side that had managed just one goal across its last three defeats, finding the net and then holding on for dear life represents more than just three points. It's evidence that the early-season form that produced those September victories over Sant Andreu and Barça's reserves wasn't a mirage.

Baleares, meanwhile, slips to 13 points and will need to quickly regroup. While they remain in second place, this loss serves as a stark reminder that in Spain's fourth tier, where margins are razor-thin and parity reigns, no result can be taken for granted. Their September 20 defeat to Sant Andreu — a wild 4-2 affair — had seemed like an aberration. Now, with another loss on their record, questions will inevitably arise about whether their hot start was sustainable.

The result reshapes the complexion of Group 3's early-season narrative. Baleares must now prove their title credentials weren't built on sand, while Andratx has a result they can build upon — a reminder that in football, sometimes the teams with the least to lose play with the most freedom.