The Lionesses keep delighting their fans

Although it was not the result they had dreamt of, their fans’ response was splendid. After the fifteenth league match played between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona, it is still evident that the red-and-white fans show an unconditional support for their players. The clash against the Catalan side was attended by 32,068 people, the second-best attendance record at San Mamés. The weather was fine that morning and La Catedral enjoyed a great game where Villacampa’s squad remained competitive, putting in an outstanding performance against a superior opponent.

In addition, we must point out that the fixture, played the day before Three Kings’ Day, had a charitable purpose, since 8,000 spectators bought their tickets to take part in the Red Cross Campaign ‘One toy, one ticket’, donating presents for the children who live in unfavourable conditions.

Women’s football keeps on taking steps forward and Athletic Club continues competing in a First Division where the professionalization has made a lot of teams look outside for what they cannot find at home. The fact that La Catedral has been able to get such positive attendance figures indicates there is a manifest interest in female football and the club can be proud of having a record of five league titles, which is a clear reference, always counting on home-grown players.

The highest attendance, 48,121 spectators recorded on a weekday Copa match against Atlético de Madrid, reveals there are thousands of girls in the area who need to have female role models competing in top venues such as prestigious stadiums. This is something that has not happened only in Bilbao. Reale Arena, Sadar, Wanda Metropolitano, Benito Villamarín, Nuevo Colombino and Heliodoro Rodríguez López, among others, have also opened their gates for the celebration of several female football matches.