Objective: to stop the lethal duo

This Saturday (5.30 p.m., field 2), Athletic Club ladies’ team will compete again in Lezama in what will be the eleventh matchday of the Primera Iberdrola. The lionesses do not play at home since last October 19, when they won by 2 goals to 1 against Real Betis. After their away victory in Vallecas on Sunday, the red-and-white team will be loaded with confidence to welcome EDF Logroño, a team that has one of the most effective strikers of the category, the African Jade Boho and Barbra Banda. The first one, international with Guinea-Equatorial, already has seven goals and is only surpassed by Jennifer Hermoso in the ranking of top scorers in the highest category. Banda, meanwhile, born in Zambia, soldier and boxer in her own country before moving on to football, is the First Iberdrola’s second top assistant after signing with EDF last summer.

The Riojan team has become, together with Deportivo Abanca (who got three points in Lezama), the revelation of the championship. The team from Logroño made a historic promotion two years ago and in their debut they avoided relegation on the last day. This year things are very different, as are sixth with 14 points, one below (and one place) the lionesses. Thanks to its coach, Gerardo García, EDF Logroño has changed the half team to face its second year in the elite.

The precedents of the previous season are favorable to Athletic, who won the two matches against La Rioja: 1-3 in Las Gaunas and 4-3 in Lezama, in a thrilling match with a hat-trick of Lucía García.