Expertise and youth together for the Copa de la Reina

Up to four Athletic Club players could be given the opportunity to play for the first time in the Copa de la Reina next Tuesday against UDG Tenerife at Lezama. Youth academy footballers Oihane, Valdezate and Amaiur do not know what it is to play in this competition yet. Neither does Andrea de la Nava, who came from EDF Logroño last summer, where she did not have the chance to play in any cup clashes. The goalkeeper has been a starter in 12 league matches this season and she could start her journey in this complicated knockout tournament next week.

At the other end of the scale is keeper Ainhoa Tirapu. The footballer from Navarra has played 26 Copa fixtures already. She made her debut when she was 22, in 2007, during a quarter-final between Athletic and Levante at Lezama. At the same age, Erika Vázquez made her debut in 2005 against the same opponents, but she did it at San Mamés, in a match where Levante won 0-2. The centre forward is the player in the current squad who has played the most times (29) in the Copa de la Reina.