Spanish League and WNT

Discussion in 'Women's International' started by Patchouli, Jul 27, 2011.

  1. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Spain is certainly no powerhouse in women's football: no Spanish club has reached the Champions League's quarterfinals and the NT has failed to qualify for every World Cup or European Championship except for the 1997 Euro. But still I think it's an interesting league that is improving with every year, so I thought about starting a thread if you're okay with it ;)

    In this post I'll talk a bit about the background. As you may know, from 1939 to 1975 Spain was under a hardline national-catholic dictatorship. Under Francoism women just had two roles in society: mother and wife, and barely had any rights at all. Women playing sports was considered an immorality until the mid-1950s. From then on, the situation began to improve and basketball, handball or volleyball leagues were arranged. But women's football was completely unrecognized and girls that wanted to play it had to face a most hostile environment.

    In 1970 FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol arranged a Christmas women's tournament: it was the first time women's football was brought to the spotlight. The social and media reaction was negative though, and the next year a dreadful film bashing women's football called Las Ibéricas FC was produced. Anyway this marked a turning point in the girls' attitude. Conchi Amancio went to Italy and became an important player there.

    Even during the transition to democracy things weren't easy. After ten years of struggle, women's football was finally recognized by the Spanish Federation in the early the 1980s. In 1983 the Spanish NT played their first match in against Portugal (0-1), and several regional leagues were arranged. The winners (PB Barcilona, CD Cide, CD Garrapinillos, Karbo CF, UD La Llave, CD Porvenir, C Txorrieri, Unión Risco) played the first edition of the National Cup. It was won by Karbo, which represented Deportivo La Coruña. The training and playing conditions would remain miserable for years, though. 1984 saw the Spanish NT score their first goal in a friendly against France that ended in a 2-2 tie and contend for the second ever European Championship. And in 1989, a national league with 8 teams was finally arranged.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQZ_1bV3u7E"]‪Primer gol selección española‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

    While ignored by the media and football fans women's football consolidated its status as a respectable sport in the 1990s, and after more men's football clubs became involved and the league was reformed in 2001 it began gaining in popularity, while remaining minoritary to date.

    I'll end this post with a list of winners of the Spanish League and Cup to date. It should be noted many of the leading teams in the 1980-90s have disappeared or play in lower divisions nowadays.

    1983 - - - - - - - / Karbo
    1984 - - - - - - - / Karbo
    1985 - - - - - - - / Karbo
    1986 - - - - - - - / Porvenir
    1987 - - - - - - - / Oiartzun
    1988 - - - - - - - / Oiartzun
    1989 PB Barcilona / Alcobendas
    1990 Atlético Madrid / Añorga
    1991 Oiartzun / Añorga
    1992 Oroquieta / Oroquieta
    1993 Oroquieta / Añorga
    1994 Oroquieta / FC Barcelona
    1995 Añorga / Oroquieta
    1996 Añorga / Espanyol
    1997 Sant Vicent / Espanyol
    1998 Málaga / Málaga
    1999 Oroquieta / Oroquieta
    2000 Puebla / Levante
    2001 Levante / Levante
    2002 Levante / Levante
    2003 Athletic Bilbao / Sabadell
    2004 Athletic Bilbao / Levante
    2005 Athletic Bilbao / Levante
    2006 Espanyol / Espanyol
    2007 Athletic Bilbao / Levante
    2008 Levante / Rayo Vallecano
    2009 Rayo Vallecano / Espanyol
    2010 Rayo Vallecano / Espanyol
    2011 Rayo Vallecano / FC Barcelona
     
    sbahnhof, kool-aide and Micol repped this.
  2. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for the background info!

    Where might be decent online sources of info about the league now?

    I looked at the draw for the UEFA women's champions league and Rayo Vallecano was drawn w/ a Slovenian team, an Irish team, and an Estonian team.
     
  3. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    You're welcome ;) There's http://futfem.com

    These are the current headlines, translated to English:

    · (27/07) Five reinforcements for Real Sociedad, Ane Bergara being the most outstanding one. Uxue Garmendia, Nerea Gabirondo, Itxaso Uriarte and Naiara Manterola are the other incorporations to the txuri urdin team.

    · (27/07) UEFA U-17 Euro: The girls are in Switzerland already. Vilda's team trains eagerly while counting the hours for their game against Iceland.

    · (26/07) WPS: Verónica Boquete repeats success as the week's MVP. The Galician wins the award for the third time in her career.

    · (26/07) FC Barcelona signs Argentine player María Florencia Quiñones. The azulgranas haven't pronounced about Sonia Bermúdez and Miriam Diéguez, who have been linked with the club.

    · (26/07) Three renovations in Levante, whose new trainer expects the team to ripen in two years. Sandra Paños, María Fernández and Maider Castillo will play one more year for the club. The team begins the pre-season tomorrow at 10:00 am.

    · (25/07) Erika Vázquez announces her departure from Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao leaks her signing. The Navarre said goodbye through Twitter. Athletic's web included her in next season's roster before officially making public her incorporation.

    · (25/07) Esther Romero is Sant Gabriel's fourth incorporation. The centerback arrives from FC Barcelona and will contribute her experience to the club's project.
     
  4. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Here's a compilation of the transfers so far:

    Athletic Bilbao
    Irene Paredes (Real Sociedad)
    Erika Vázquez (Espanyol)

    Atlético Madrid

    Marieta López (Zaragoza)
    Noelia Mejías (Torrejón)
    Sandra Vilanova (Espanyol)

    Barcelona

    Florencia Quiñones (San Lorenzo)
    Kenty Robles (Espanyol)

    Espanyol

    Mari Paz Vilas (Barcelona)

    L'Estartit

    Mónica Gonçalves (1º Dezembro)
    Raquel Infantes (1º Dezembro)
    Vânia van der Kellen (Torpedos)
    Carolina Mendes (1º Dezembro)

    Levante

    Alba Merino (At. Madrid)
    Nerea Pérez (Hércules)
    Alexia Putellas (Espanyol)

    Rayo Vallecano

    Marta García (Torrejón)
    Patricia Gudiel (Torrejón)
    Esther Hernández (Torrejón)

    Real Sociedad

    Ane Bergara (Espanyol)
    Nerea Gabirondo (Eibar)
    Uxue Garmendia (Lazkao)
    Ainara Manterola (Orioko)
    Itxaso Uriarte (Aurrera)

    Sant Gabriel

    Georgina Carreras (L'Estartit)
    Marina Keller (Levante)
    Rebekah Patrick (Colorado Force)
    Esther Romero (Barcelona)

    Sporting Huelva

    Maite Albarán (Sevilla)
    Lorena Bocanegra (Sevilla)
    Trinidad Espejo (Sevilla)
    Dolores Gallardo (Sevilla)
    Virginia García (Sevilla)
    Jenifer Morilla (Sevilla)

    Zaragoza

    Nelly Maestro (Aragonesa)
     
  5. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks again. I will add futfem to my list of sites to check periodically.

    I am in need of remedial education. In the rivalry thread you posted about groups and then relegation groups. Is the league not organized w/ a unified table? Are groups geographically based?

    Sorry to ask so many simple questions but I'm pretty ignorant about women's football in Spain, except to know the names of a couple of Spanish players and that a couple of Mexican players went over to Spain to play--mostly b/c I know about Maribel but a couple of others, too.
     
  6. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Just for the past two seasons. The 2008-09 season ended like this:

    1. Rayo Vallecano, 81
    2. Levante, 76
    3. Athletic Bilbao, 65
    4. Espanyol, 60
    5. Prainsa Zaragoza, 51
    6. FC Barcelona, 49
    7. Atlético Madrid, 48
    8. Torrejón, 38
    9. Sporting Huelva, 37
    10. Real Sociedad, 33
    11. Lagunak, 32
    12. L'Estartit, 31
    13. Málaga, 26
    14. Colegio Alemán, 25
    15.
    Puebla Extremadura, 20
    16.
    Pozuelo, 16

    With the top eight teams playing the Queen's Cup as usual:

    6-1 1-0 Rayo Vallecano - Torrejón
    2-2 2-3 Levante - Espanyol
    2-1 0-3 Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona
    0-2 1-2 Atlético Madrid - Prainsa Zaragoza

    4-2 1-3 Rayo Vallecano - Espanyol
    3-1 3-1 Prainsa Zaragoza - Barcelona

    5-1 Espanyol - Prainsa Zaragoza

    Then in summer the Spanish federation (RFEF) decided to reform the Superleague to try make it more popular, by promoting the women's teams of several men's football clubs: CP Cacereño, SD Eibar, Gimnàstic Tarragona, Real Jaén, UD Las Palmas, Real Murcia, Sevilla FC and Real Valladolid. On the other hand, UD Collerense and Oviedo Moderno went thorugh the promotion play-offs. There wouldn't be neither relegations nor promotions for three seasons. All clubs in the league protested, but the federation didn't care and carried out the plan.

    Since 24 teams were too many for a regular league, the system was reformed into two group stages. In the first stage groups were geographically based indeed. Murcia and Cacereño retired just before the start of the competition, leaving two groups with just 7 teams.

    · Gr. A [Euskadi: 3 - Aragón, Asturias, Castilla-León, Navarra, Canarias: 1]
    1. Athletic Bilbao, 33
    2. Prainsa Zaragoza, 32
    3. Real Sociedad, 30
    4. Lagunak, 22
    5. Oviedo Moderno, 20
    6. Las Palmas, 10
    7. Eibar, 7
    8. Valladolid, 2

    · Gr. B [Catalunya: 4 - Valencia: 2 - Baleares: 1]

    1. Espanyol, 29
    2. Barcelona, 26
    3. Levante, 24
    4. L'Estartit, 17
    5. Collerense, 15
    6. Valencia CF, 8 (former Colegio Alemán)
    7. Gimnàstic Tarragona, 0

    · Gr. C [Andalucía: 4 - Madrid: 3]

    1. Rayo Vallecano, 34
    2. Atlético Madrid, 24
    3. Sporting Huelva, 21
    4. Torrejón, 18
    5. Sevilla, 14
    6. Málaga, 8
    7. Jaén, 3


    For the second stage, the two best teams of each group and the two best 3rd placed teams qualified for the top group:

    · Gr. A
    1. Espanyol, 36
    2. Rayo Vallecano, 34
    3. Athletic Bilbao, 29
    4. Atlético Madrid, 18
    5. Barcelona, 17
    6. Prainsa Zaragoza, 12
    7. Real Sociedad, 9
    8. Levante, 5


    The other teams were drawn into two other groups:

    · Group B
    1. L'Estartit, 33
    2. Sevilla, 26
    3. Sporting Huelva, 21
    4. Oviedo Moderno, 18
    5. Málaga, 8
    6. Jaén, 8
    7. Eibar, 5

    · Group C

    1. Torrejón, 28
    2. Collerense, 21
    3. Las Palmas, 21
    4. Lagunak, 19
    5. Valencia, 17
    6. Valladolid, 11
    7. Gimnàstic Tarragona, 0


    The two top teams in Group A played a double leg final match for the title:

    1-0 1-1 Rayo Vallecano - Espanyol

    While the top three teams in Groups B and C joined Group A teams in the Queen's Cup:

    1-0 0-2 Atlético Madrid - Sporting Huelva
    2-1 0-2 Collerense - Barcelona
    0-0 2-2 Torrejón - Real Sociedad
    7-0 0-3 Levante - L'Estartit
    7-0 6-1 Athletic Bilbao - Las Palmas
    5-0 2-3 Prainsa Zaragoza - Sevilla


    Then Rayo and Espanyol entered the competition in the quarter-finals:

    4-0 2-1 Torrejón - Sporting Huelva
    4-2 3-1 Espanyol - Prainsa Zaragoza
    1-0 2-0 Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao
    2-0 3-1 Rayo Vallecano - Levante


    And a final four was played in a town in Euskadi:

    1-0 Espanyol - Barcelona
    3-0 Rayo Vallecano - Torrejón

    3-0 Barcelona - Torrejón


    3-1
    Espanyol - Rayo Vallecano

    By now it was obvious none of the eight teams were prepared to play in the top division, except for Sevilla and maybe Las Palmas, which would collapse the following year.

    Since there were two free spots CE Sant Gabriel and Racing Santander were promoted for the 2010-11 season through the play-offs, but Jaén retired, leaving the league one team short once again:

    · Gr. A
    1. Real Sociedad, 34
    2. Athletic Bilbao, 34
    3. Prainsa Zaragoza, 30
    4. Lagunak, 27
    5. Oviedo Moderno, 16
    6. Racing Santander, 9
    7. Eibar, 7
    8. Valladolid, 3

    · Gr. B
    1. Espanyol, 37
    2. Barcelona, 31
    3. Sant Gabriel, 27
    4. Valencia, 24
    5. Levante, 24
    6. Collerense, 11
    7. L'Estartit, 8
    8. Gimnàstic Tarragona, 3

    · Gr. C
    1. Rayo Vallecano, 31
    2. Atlético Madrid, 29
    3. Torrejón, 19
    4. Sevilla, 15
    5. Sporting Huelva, 11
    6. Las Palmas, 10
    7. Málaga, 5


    Then in January RFEF suddenly anounced the system was going to be reverted for the next season, and teams standing in the 5th to 7/8º spots in the 2nd stage's groups B and C would be relegated. Rayo Vallecano won the league again:

    · Gr. A
    1. Espanyol, 32
    2. Rayo Vallecano, 30
    3. Athletic Bilbao, 28
    4. Barcelona, 19
    5. Atlético Madrid, 17 G
    6. Prainsa Zaragoza, 11
    7. Sant Gabriel, 10
    8. Real Sociedad, 10

    2-2 2-1 Rayo Vallecano - Espanyol

    While the remaining five unrightfully promoted teams were relegated, together with Torrejón and Oviedo Moderno:

    · Gr. B
    1. Valencia, 29
    2. Sporting Huelva, 26
    3. Racing Santander, 25
    4. Málaga, 25
    5. Torrejón, 24
    6. Oviedo Moderno, 24
    7. Gimnàstic Tarragona, 7
    8. Eibar, 1

    · Gr. C
    1. Levante, 29
    2. Collerense, 23
    3. Lagunak, 23
    4. L'Estartit, 19
    5. Sevilla, 15
    6. Las Palmas, 7
    7. Valladolid, 4

    Gimnàstic, Las Palmas and Valladolid's women's teams were disbanded following their relegation.

    Like the previous year, the three best performing teams joined the Group A teams in the Queen's Cup. Group B was quite exciting, with just one point between playing the elite national cup and getting relegated. FC Barcelona stunned Rayo and Espanyol and won the competition for the second time in their history:

    1-0 3-1 Atlético Madrid - Collerense
    3-2 1-1 Sant Gabriel - Levante
    1-0 1-2 Real Sociedad - Valencia
    6-0 5-1 Athletic Bilbao - Lagunak
    -------- Prainsa Zaragoza > Sporting Huelva (SPorting retired due to financial trouble)

    2-0 2-1 Barcelona - Rayo Vallecano
    3-1 1-2 Real Sociedad - Sant Gabriel
    2-1 1-0 Atlético Madrid - Prainsa Zaragoza
    3-1 2-0 Espanyol - Rayo Vallecano

    2-0 Barcelona - Real Sociedad
    1-0 Espanyol - Atlético Madrid

    1-0 Barcelona - Espanyol

    So for next season we are back to an 18 teams regular league (which is now called First Division instead of Superleague), with RVPR El Olivo and SPC Llanos Olivenza as the newly promoted teams.
     
  7. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    In the next few posts I'll post highlights of some interesting matches from these past seasons. For starters, here's the 2009 Queen's Cup final: Espanyol 5-1 Prainsa Zaragoza.

    Espanyol's Cup campaign was surrounded by controversy, since midfielder Noemi Rubio was fired days earlier after a photo showing her supporting FC Barcelona in the King's Cup final was leaked. Team-mate Marta Cubí was expelled too after she supported her. Both players subsequently moved to Barcelona.

    The final was played on June 21 in Real Zaragoza's stadium La Romareda before 8000 spectators, so Prainsa played at home. The locals took the lead with an early goal by Argentine player Mariela Coronel, but Silvia Meseguer tied the game minutes later and Adriana Martín (now playing for Sky Blue) decided the match with four quality goals. You can also see Verónica Boquete, who previously played for Prainsa, wearing the 21 shirt in her first season in Barcelona. It was Espanyol's fourth Queen's Cup.

    These were the line-ups:

    Espanyol: Cristina Prieto, Olga Moreno, Ane Bergara, Marta Torrejón, Rocío Serrano, Miriam Diéguez, Verónica Boquete, Silvia Meseguer, Sara Serna, Marta Corredera, Adriana Martín (subs: Joana Montouto, Carol Miranda, Marta Yáñez, Lara Rabal)

    Prainsa: Pilar Velilla, Almudena Merino, Vicky Belmonte, Laura Folch, Sonia Matías, Julia Vera, Claudia Neto, Mayte Casas, Mariela Coronel, Ana Borges, Edite Fernandes (subs: Clarisa Huber, Marieta López, Leticia Carballal, Sira Abad)


    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUTZ6V2YbLU"]‪ESPANYOL FEM. OBTUVO LA COPA DE LA REINA- Prainsa 1- Espanyol 5‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]
     
  8. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Again, thank you for the great information and detail.
     
  9. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Some updates on the transfer market:

    · Levante has signed U19 international Marta Luna, who played this year in the NCAA for the Valparaíso University.

    · Espanyol has Haruna Kawashima at trial. We could see her at last year's U17 World Cup. Portuguese defender Sonia Matías (playing for Prainsa in the highlights) has renewed her contract despite having offers from France.

    · Llanos Olivenza has signed three players who just left Atlético Madrid: defenders Lucía Jiménez and Lucía Padilla plus Cristina Prieto (Espanyol's goalkeeper in the HL), who missed this past season because of an injury.

    · RVPR El Olivo has signed three players from Galician 2nd Division teams: Karen Moreira and Isabel Fernández from Pontevedra, and Desirée Gardón from Erizana.

    [​IMG]
    Kawashima and Matías, yesterday in Espanyol's stadium.
     
  10. Micol

    Micol Member+

    Sep 16, 2008
    I've lost track of Laura del Rio, who played for Frankfurt for a short time. I believe she is playing in the US now, but is she on the Spanish national team?
     
  11. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    No, she isn't. She was called off for two WWC QS matches after she signed for Boston Breakers because RFEF didn't want to pay her plane tickets from the US (!). Naturally Del Río didn't accept that, the situation developed into a clash with coach Ignacio Quereda (who has been the HC for 23 years despite failing to produce any results since 1997) and it seems she won't play for the NT before this guy retires, which probably means she won't play anymore.

    That's the way women's football is run here in Spain :(
     
  12. Micol

    Micol Member+

    Sep 16, 2008
    Oh, that's a shame. :(
     
  13. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is Boquette in a similar situation as Del Rio, then? Because she's played in the USA for at least 2 years (last year first w/ the Flash and then CRS and now in Philly).

    I remember reading a blog piece that Del Rio wrote last year (I think) basically saying the national team coach is an idiot, the federation won't pay for my plane tickets, doesn't care about women's football, and I'm not going to be quiet about it anymore. But the blog piece was on her agent's page or some such. So not exactly speaking to a wide audience.
     
  14. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    No idea. The WNT hasn't played a single match since the UEFA's regular QS for the WC ended in June 2010, and Boquete began playing for Buffalo Flash in July. We'll know when the list for the Euro's first QS matches in September is issued. I hope they won't call off Boquete and Martín, but RFEF wouldn't risk facing a scandal by doing that since sadly the media and most of the audience don't give a damn about women's football here.

    BTW, watching the Independence-Beat highlights I noticed the commentator pronounced Boquete (which means "hole", specifically in the wall or the floor) without the final E, like it was a French surname. It actually sounds like it's written, "bo-ké-te" :p
     
  15. jonny63

    jonny63 Member+

    Feb 17, 2005
    Norway
    Why do WNT never play friendlies ?
     
  16. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    RFEF just doesn't care...

    Here are some highlights from this season Superleague's two-leg final match:

    Rayo Vallecano 2-2 RCD Espanyol
    Saray García 2', Jennifer Hermoso 58'
    Verónica Boquete 16', 78'

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdq4OFu_tWc"]‪30-4-11 FINAL SUPERLIGA RAYO 2- ESPANYOL 2‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

    RCD Espanyol 1-2 Rayo Vallecano
    Ane Bergara 7'
    Sonia Bermúdez 15', Jennifer Hermoso 70'

    Espanyol María José Pons, Ane Bergara, Marta Torrejón, Lara Rabal, Ana Romero, Sandra Vilanova, Vanessa Gimbert, Sara Monforte, Silvia Meseguer, Erika Vázquez, Verónica Boquete (Alexia Putellas, Kenty Robles, Sonia Matias)

    R. Vallecano Alicia Gómez, Cristina Pizarro, María Galán, Alexandra López, Sonia Vesga "Burgos", Míriam Diéguez, Pilar García, Sonia Bermúdez, Jennifer Hermoso, Saray García, Natalia Pablos (Jade Boho, Ana Rubio, Paloma Lázaro, Mónica Fernández)


    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoYdWuUeFBk"]‪Final Superliga: RCD Espanyol - Rayo V. (Vuelta)‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

     
  17. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    A few more updates on the transfer market, in blue:

    Athletic Bilbao

    Irene Paredes (Real Sociedad)
    Erika Vázquez (Espanyol)

    Atlético Madrid

    Marieta López (Zaragoza)
    Noelia Mejías (Torrejón)
    Sandra Vilanova (Espanyol)

    Barcelona

    Florencia Quiñones (San Lorenzo)
    Kenty Robles (Espanyol)

    Collerense
    Marta Darder (Sant Jordi)
    Gabriela Gutiérrez (Mallorca)
    Vanesa Peña (S'Horta)

    Espanyol

    Haruna Kawashima? (JFA Academy)
    Mari Paz Vilas (Barcelona)

    L'Estartit

    Mónica Gonçalves (1º Dezembro)
    Raquel Infantes (1º Dezembro)
    Vânia van der Kellen (Torpedos)
    Carolina Mendes (1º Dezembro)

    Levante

    Marta Luna (Valparaíso University)
    Alba Merino (At. Madrid)
    Nerea Pérez (Hércules)
    Alexia Putellas (Espanyol)

    Llanos Olivenza
    Lucía Jiménez (At. Madrid)
    Lucía Padilla (At. Madrid)
    Cristina Prieto (At. Madrid)

    Rayo Vallecano

    Marta García (Torrejón)
    Patricia Gudiel (Torrejón)
    Esther Hernández (Torrejón)

    Real Sociedad

    Ane Bergara (Espanyol)
    Nerea Gabirondo (Eibar)
    Uxue Garmendia (Lazkao)
    Ainara Manterola (Orioko)
    Itxaso Uriarte (Aurrera)

    Recreativo El Olivo
    Isabel Fernández (Pontevedra)
    Desirée Gardón (Erizana)
    Karen Moreira (Pontevedra)

    Sant Gabriel

    Georgina Carreras (L'Estartit)
    Marina Keller (Levante)
    Rebekah Patrick (Colorado Force)
    Esther Romero (Barcelona)

    Sporting Huelva

    Maite Albarán (Sevilla)
    Lorena Bocanegra (Sevilla)
    Trinidad Espejo (Sevilla)
    Dolores Gallardo (Sevilla)
    Virginia García (Sevilla)
    Jenifer Morilla (Sevilla)

    Valencia
    Raquel Pinel (Sp. Huelva)

    Zaragoza

    Nelly Maestro (Aragonesa)
     
  18. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    FC Barcelona has signed Sonia Bermúdez, one of the best Spanish players, together with Miriam Diéguez (also from Rayo), Ludmila Manicler (another Argentine international) and Alba Aznar (Gimnàstic).

    Valencia 2-1 Levante (friendly match)
    Ana Torrentí, Naiara Ves
    Alicia González (0-1)
     
  19. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    I read RCD Espanyol has defeated an undisclosed American team by 14-0, with goals by Ana Romero (7), Brenda Pérez (4), Lara Rabal, Débora García and Marta Torrejón. I guess it should be a youth team or something, while Espanyol is a really good team I don't think they could trash a NCAA team. BTW, it should be noted that the team's budget has been reduced from 400000€ to 195000€ and several key players have left for other clubs.

    Espanyol's next friendly will be on Monday, against St. Joseph's Hawks. Previously the youth team will play against Rhodes College Lynx, which will also face FC Barcelona and recently relegated AD Torrejón while in Spain.
     
  20. kool-aide

    kool-aide Member+

    Feb 1, 2002
    a van by the river
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't know who the "undisclosed" team is but there are definitely small colleges and/or not very good teams who still might take a pre or post season trip. I don't know how good or bad Espanyol is but Rhodes College is a Div III and did not have a winning record last season (last winning record was 2008).
     
  21. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Thanks for the info :)

    Rayo Vallecano played yesterday the first match of the Champions League's qualifying stage against Peamount United. They won 1-0, with a goal by Natalia Pablos in the injury time. Tomorrow they face Pärnu, who beat Krka Novo Mesto by 2-1.

    The Spanish teams began pre-season just a week ago, so these early stage is quite risky. The statistics at UEFA's website show Rayo controlled completely the match, but Irish teams sure are tough (past year's U17 Euro comes to mind). Overall, a fundamental victory.

    BTW, Rayo has signed Argentine player Marianela Szymanowski, who was one of Atlético Madrid's best players this season. She played some minutes yesterday.

    [​IMG]
    (This is not the goal, but a chance by Saray García)
     
  22. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Rayo Vallecano won JK Pärnu 4-1 and Krka Novo Mesto 4-0 in the other two games. Actually the game against the Estonians wasn't an easy win, since they were far superior (22-1 in shots) but Pärnu scored the one chance they had and nearly resisted until HT. The final match was just a formality since Rayo had qualified after Krka lost 7-0 to Peamount.

    Now, back to the league. The big news today is that Adriana Martín is about to sign for Atlético Madrid, now that the WPS season is over for Sky Blue.

    Here are some pre-season results:

    Athletic Bilbao 8-0 Racing Santander
    Irune Murua x2, Naiara Beristain x2, Gurutze Fernández, Alazne Gómez, Amaia Olabarrieta, Elisabeth Ibarra

    Levante 2-0 Valencia
    Ruth García, Alba Merino

    Espanyol 4-0 St. Joseph Hawks
    Ana María Romero x2, Nuria Mendoza, Marta Torrejón

    Espanyol II 6-0 Rhodes Lynx

    Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Atlético Madrid
    Naiara Beristain 45
    Amanda Sampedro 38 90

    Zaragoza 2-3 Valencia
    Nuria Mallada, Bárbara Latorre
    Creu Ferrer, Marta Mateos, Claudia Barea

    Espanyol 4-1 Sant Gabriel
    Ana María Romero, Debora García, Aida García, Nuria Mendoza
    ?
     
  23. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    RFEF has announced the squad for the first Euro QS match, against Turkey:

    · Goalkeepers

    • Ainhoa Tirapu (Athletic Bilbao)
    • María José Pons (Espanyol)
    • Noelia Mejías (Atlético Madrid)

    · Defenders

    • Ana María Escribano (Barcelona)
    • Ruth García (Levante)
    • Leire Landa (Atlético Madrid)
    • Alexandra López (Rayo Vallecano)
    • Melisa Nicolau (Barcelona)
    • Marta Torrejón (Espanyol)

    · Midfielders

    • Sonia Bermúdez (Barcelona)
    • Miriam Diéguez (Barcelona)
    • Jennifer Hermoso (Rayo Vallecano)
    • Elisabeth Ibarra (Athletic Bilbao)
    • Silvia Meseguer (Espanyol)
    • Amaia Olabarrieta (Athletic Bilbao)
    • Irene Paredes (Athletic Bilbao)
    • Ana Romero (Espanyol)
    • Cristina Vega (Rayo Vallecano)

    · Forwards

    • Verónica Boquete (Philadelphia Independence)
    • Priscila Borja (Atlético Madrid)
    • Mª Alharilla Casado (Sporting Huelva)
    • Marta Corredera (Barcelona)
    • Olga García (Barcelona)
    • Adriana Martín (Atlético Madrid)

    It's quite a revolution. There are a lot of new young players (Borja, Casado, Corredera, Olga García, Hermoso, Landa, Mejías, Paredes, Vega) and some notable players have been dropped, such as Sandra Vilanova, Sonia Burgos and specially Erika Vázquez, who scored 22 goals in the league this season.

    As expected Laura del Río isn't back...
     
  24. Patchouli

    Patchouli Member

    Jul 16, 2011
    Valencia, Spain
    Copa Catalunya (w/o Sant Gabriel, which is currently Catalonia 3rd best team. BTW, 2nd tier Levante LP has nothing to do with Valencia's Levante UD)

    · Semi-Finals
    Barcelona 2-1 L'Estartit
    Montserrat Tomé 69, Sonia Bermúdez 73
    Maribel Domínguez 86
    Espanyol 5-0 Levante Las Planas
    Ana Mª Romero 4, Vanesa Gimbert 27, Marta Torrejón 61, Débora García 68 83

    · Final
    Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol
    Alba Montserrat (pp) 74


    Copa Euskalherria

    · Quarter-Finals
    Athletic Bilbao 13-0 Añorga
    Abanto 10-0 Donapaleu
    Real Sociedad 3-0 San Juan
    Lagunak 2-1 Aurrerá


    · Semi-Finals
    Athletic Bilbao 8-0 Abanto
    Amaia Olabarrieta 16, Gurutze Fernández 17, Naiara Beristain 22 32 47, Joana Flaviano 27 50, Manuela Lareo 75
    Real Sociedad 2-0 Lagunak
    Ane Bergara 27, Idoia Agirre 37

    · Final
    Athletic Bilbao 4-1 Real Sociedad
    Arrate Orueta 50, Gurutze Fernández 53, Manuela Lareo 73, Nekane Díez 76
    Larraitz Lucas 10


    Here are some highlights from the Copa Catalunya's final. Note Espanyol's GK is MªJ. Pons' reserve.

    BTW, Espanyol has signed Lianne Sanderson and Joanna Lohman!

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iIFoysSsbo"]Resumen final Copa Catalunya: RCD Espanyol-FC Barcelona (0-1) - YouTube[/ame]
     
  25. futbolreal

    futbolreal Member

    Oct 31, 2009
    Thank you for all the great information on the league. Very informative. I have a question. What are the rules regarding players who live outside of Spain and would like to play in the League? Are there are certain number of players outside Spain, outside the European Union who can play on a team? Also, does a team have to field a designated number of players from Spain, from the European Union during league games? If players abroad are interested in playing in Spain, would they need to contact the league or individual teams.
     

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