The city of Granada is living a dream year thanks to sports. The men’s and women’s teams of Granada CF were promoted to the First Division this season. Covirán Granada, the city’s basketball team, also managed to remain in the top tier of Spanish basketball.
In this case, we are going to focus on the promotion of Granada CF’s women’s team. They played in 1ª RFEF last season. The Nasrid side had been on the verge of promotion for several years with their young and unhurried project. The rojiblancas have created a solid core thanks to how the players are treated and their patience.
The team’s coach for the last two seasons, Roger Lamesa, has had a lot to do with what they have accomplished. Lamesa is a very passionate manager, who is also very open to self-criticism and with very clear ideas. Granada are known for being a brave team that play the ball and always make their fans enjoy. Although sometimes results have not gone their way, they have never given up.
Last season they entered the race for promotion pretty much in the last minute. Barça B were league champions, but they cannot play in the First Division. Second-placed Eibar earned their spot for promotion to Liga F. Third through sixth would compete in the playoffs for the remaining spot.
Granada ranked fifth in the standings thanks to good results in the last few matches against direct rivals. In the playoff semifinals, they had to face fourth-placed Osasuna. They breezed through the matchup, playing two impeccable games in which they managed to score five goals while keeping a clean sheet.
The finals would be against Deportivo ABANCA, another team with a great project who have been close to achieving promotion for several years. Both teams were evenly matched until the end, but Granada’s 2-0 advantage in the first leg was critical, especially thanks to Pamela’s stratospheric performance. In the second leg, Dépor could only score one goal and Granada went through. Their solid defense and the impossible saves performed by Sandra Estévez gave Granada the right to dream of the elite once again.
Everyone has good things to say about Granada. Last season they were one of the most surprising teams in Copa de la Reina and the ‘Estadio Los Cármenes’ witnessed a historic event. The Nasrid side was proudly defeated by Atlético de Madrid in the quarter-finals (3-0). The ‘rojiblancas’ played a fantastic first half, but the gap between both teams was more noticeable after the break. Granada and their players will never forget the 22/23 season.
From Sandra and Andrea locking down the goal. Marta, Alba Pérez, Gaste and Postigo being the leaders of the backline. Pamela, Alicia and Noe, working their magic in the midfield. Naima, Lauri and Laura Perez, the ammunition of the Nasrid attack. And many more players who have been critical in Granada’s return to the First Division.
This season in Liga F, they will have to face off against the biggest teams in Spain. They have a massive challenge ahead of them and, for that reason, they are working with a lot of patience and have made several additions that will play an important role. The backbone of the team have stayed together and that will critical to their campaign. The toughest departure has been that of Pamela González, who joined Sevilla this summer.
Granada have made the following signings: Ari Mingueza (Barça B), Andrea Gómez (AEM), Carlota Suárez (Dépor), Natalia Fernández (Espanyol), Ornella (Alavés/FCB), Lucía Martínez (Alhama), Edna (Cacereño), Nerea Vicente (Alhama) and Isa Álvarez (Granadilla Tenerife).
All the signings share a series of features such as youth, projection and experience. In addition, most of them have played in the First Division. Granada’s fans can be excited, but with patience, with their team. They won their first preseason matchup against Alhama (1-2), in which the team gave very good sensations. However, their second match in Copa Andalucía ended in a rough loss against Sevilla (4-1).
The team needs to gain confidence and the new signings need to adapt as soon as possible. What is most important is that the club continues to bet on the team and keeps investing in improvements. Keeping their style of play will be one of the toughest challenges for Roger Lamesa’s team. Granada seems to be doing things right and this year they will dream of earning a place among the top teams. Hopefully things will work out for them…
Translated by Nuño Alonso.
Main image: @GranadaCF_Fem.
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