The Domènech twins, 'Perico' feeling for Espanyol
Both players, who came through the '21' academy, have debuted this season in Liga F Moeve with the first Perico team. Ariadna Domènech, a full-back, wears the number 35, while her twin sister, Ainhoa Domènech, a forward, wears 29. The two players are an example for the rest of the club's academy talents.
04 TUE 2026
The dream of every girl. That is what Ariadna Domènech (Barcelona, 21 July 2005) and Ainhoa Domènech (Barcelona, 21 July 2005) are experiencing this season. Both footballers arrived at '21', and quickly climbed through the ranks. From 'cadete' to 'juvenil', and from 'juvenil' to the reserve team. After shining in the academy, the only thing missing for the twin sisters was to reach the first team. Ariadna achieved it first, in September 2024, when she debuted in the Copa de la Reina. Even so, the full-back still had to debut in Liga F Moeve, and the centre-back had to wait a year later, until 9 November 2025, when, due to defensive absences, Sara Monforte fielded her as a starter against Real Sociedad (2-3). Despite the defeat, the day was unforgettable for the Perica player.
“I am very happy about my Liga F debut. It's what I've been working towards for so long. Many years at the club that has seen me grow. I'm not as happy with the result, but very happy about the debut,” declared the full-back, who quickly added that “I felt confident. My teammates have helped me a lot day-to-day and have given me the confidence to be calm.” The centre-back, who wears the number 35, has seized her opportunity at right-back for the Perica team, and is now practically a fully-fledged member of the first team at RCD Espanyol. Ariadna has accumulated 673 minutes in the top flight across nine matches, eight as a starter and only one as a substitute. Furthermore, Sara Monforte has always nurtured both academy players.
The best example came at the Di Stéfano. With Real Madrid CF having already scored two goals and continuously attacking the Perica full-back's flank, the coach from Castellón decided to substitute her just after half an hour, explaining the reason for the substitution and maintaining her confidence in her for the following matchdays. The same applied to her twin sister, Ainhoa Domènech. The forward, who wears the number 29, and who, like her sister, had already played as a starter in the Copa de la Reina round of 32, debuted in Liga F Moeve on 17 January 2026 in the victory against Atlético de Madrid (0-1). A very special triumph for the forward, who, despite playing in an attacking role, came on for Daniela Caracas with three minutes left on the clock.
She repeated in the following matchday, in the draw against Costa Adeje Tenerife (0-0), where she also coincided on the pitch with her twin sister. Both played at full-back, playing the entire match. The two academy players were key to their team keeping a clean sheet. Both repeated in their respective full-back positions the following weekend. In total, Ainhoa Domènech has already played 150 minutes with the Perica first team in the First Division, spread across three matches, two as a starter and one as a substitute. Two players developed in the Perica academy who have managed to reach the first team through patience and daily hard work. Now they hope to continue convincing Sara Monforte to keep adding minutes and establish themselves in the elite.