Victor Martin steps onto the pitch for a special match today as Athletic host Atlético at 12 p.m. He left the red‑and‑white side in January and joined Lezama this summer. The Madrid‑born coach stresses collective focus. “We must keep our preparation sharp. Seeing staff and players brings back fond memories, but once match day arrives we’ll compete,” he says.
His side aims to rebuild the strong league start—two wins and a draw—after a setback last weekend’s Ipurua derby loss. The red‑and‑white squad sit one point behind (6) yet have already tested Barça and Real Madrid in their defeats, marking them as one of the league’s toughest teams. “They’re executing brilliantly under a superb coach. I don’t just scan the calendar; we dissect every opponent, highlighting strengths and where we can menace them,” Martin explains, noting Elexpuru’s return after an ankle issue. Atlético will miss Jenni Hermoso due to a muscle injury. In my view, Athletic appear the better‑prepared side.
The lionesses have dropped points in three of four matches. “We’ve zeroed in on many improvement areas, especially early phases and closing stages, which we must manage better both offensively and defensively,” the coach explains. Can they reverse the trend and claim victory this weekend?