Clara Pinedo leads Athletic Club's comeback
The Basque side won 3-1 against FC Badalona Women. The Catalan club took the lead with a goal from Irina Uribe, but Clara Pinedo, who was the MVP of the clash, Ane Azkona and Jone Amezaga turned the game around. Víctor Martín's project starts with a victory, and the Catalan team's triumph will have to wait.
30 AUG 2026
The Athletic Club players took to the pitch wearing t-shirts in support of Leire Baños, who is sidelined with an ACL injury. The opening minutes were tightly contested, with little to separate the two sides. María Valenzuela was sharp off her line to thwart a one-on-one chance for Ane Campos, although the breakthrough came thirteen minutes in. Sonia Majarín played a spectacular ball over the top to beat the opposing defence, and Irene Uribe capitalised on her teammate's gift to beat Nanclares with a deft low finish. The Basque side's goalkeeper managed to gather a free-kick effort from the Catalans. The scoreline remained unchanged until, right before the break, a throw-in fell to Maite Valero, who cleverly backheeled the ball into the path of Clara Pinedo—named MVP of the match—to level the scores.
The final chance of the first half came from a visiting set-piece that came close to catching the hosts out. After the interval, Marc Ballester made a change from the dugout, bringing on María Llompart in an attempt to swing the match back in their favour. The first opportunity of the second half fell to Lucía Martínez. The midfielder tried her luck with a shot from inside the area that required a brilliant save from Nanclares. The response was not long in coming, with Ane Campos firing a long-range effort just over the crossbar. With half an hour played, Víctor Martín made a double substitution, sending on Amaia Iribarren and Jone Amezaga as they looked to complete the comeback. A second goal nearly arrived from a set-piece, but Valenzuela claimed a powerful header following a free-kick.
Meanwhile, Paula Sánchez was introduced for the visitors to bolster their presence in midfield. It remained finely balanced out on the pitch, but with twenty minutes remaining, Ane Azkona—who had just come on—won a loose ball inside the box, rounded María Valenzuela and completed the comeback for the *leonas*. The goal forced FC Badalona Women to react, with Marc Ballester bringing on Mirari Uria and Lorena Navarro, but the clinical edge of the Bilbao side paid off once again. Clara Pinedo delivered another long ball for Jone Amezaga, who lobbed it over María Valenzuela; the goalkeeper managed to get a touch on the ball, but could not prevent it from crossing the line to seal the victory for the Basque outfit. Elena Julve had the final chance with a header, but Nanclares gathered the ball with barely any trouble.