Taking the plunge at the start of a project isn’t easy, especially in women’s football. The fear of failure means that many risky ideas that could end in success don’t go ahead. The case of Levante Badalona is very interesting, as they have left behind 25 years of history to take a step forward in Spanish women’s football.
Farewell to the mythical Levante Las Planas and welcome to Levante Badalona. Moving from Sant Joan Despí to Badalona after 25 years of history. A new project with an economic injection and exciting signings: Estefanía Banini, María Llompart, Cristina Cubedo, Maca Portales, María Valenzuela, Ana González, Itzi Pinillos, Berta Pujadas and Sonia Majarín.
The team has started the league competition in style. They are currently fourth in Liga F, with just a narrow defeat against Real Sociedad. The reason for this drastic change seems to be working. The aim of the move was to be able to train and play on a natural grass pitch, a requirement that will soon be necessary to play in the First Division.
To win, you also have to know how to suffer. The Catalan team has won all four matches by the minimum, but showing great play and superiority against their rivals. The match against Deportivo de la Coruña is a clear example of this, the team knew how to suffer and win in the last minute against the Galicians. Macarena Portales scored a great goal from the edge of the area to give the Catalans the victory.
One of the first tests of fire for Levante Badalona was the clash against Sevilla. The Catalans showed their best game, dominating chances and possession, which is a regular feature of their game. A total of 13 chances and 64% of possession until Sonia Majarín opened the scoring in the 75th minute to secure three vital points.
Sonia Majarín, on loan from Atlético de Madrid, is a permanent fixture in Ferran Cabello’s side. The player is one of the revelations of the championship, where she has played almost everything and was the MVP of the match against Sevilla. The player from Madrid is key to Levante Badalona’s defensive numbers, a team that has only conceded three goals, one less than FC Barcelona.
Getting an almost completely new team rolling is no easy task, but Ferran Cabello is doing a great job. He has managed to fit all the pieces together to have his team fourth in the standings, just behind FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. We will have to see how they approach the games against these three big teams they have yet to play.
Levante Badalona will open the seventh round of Liga F next Saturday at 12:00 against UD Tenerife at Municipal Stadium of Badalona. A new test to see if the Catalan side maintain the level with which they have started and establish themselves as the revelation of the First Women’s Division.
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
Main image: @fclevantebadalona.
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