Sara Ortega Athletic Club Real Madrid women’s football match preview, Digi Mart USA News: Athletic Club host Real Madrid at Lezama this Saturday at 16:00 local time. The last meeting between the two sides, on January 13 at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium, ended in a narrow Athletic Club victory thanks to a goal from Sara Ortega.
“It would be a dream to repeat it again,” Ortega told MARCA. “It’s a very important match and we believe it will be competitive.
We are coming into it in very good form, and the team will surely show that. We are playing at home and want to take three points in front of our fans.”
Athletic Club arrive at the fixture after a 2-0 defeat at Costa Adeje Tenerife’s Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium. That match was overshadowed by news earlier in the day concerning Jesús de Miguel, who later died after an accident.
Ortega said the team was first told he was stable in intensive care, but the situation later worsened tragically. “I would like to send a lot of encouragement to his whole family and friends,” she said.
“Since the day after we got the news, I haven’t stopped thinking about it, and it’s something we have talked about a lot in the dressing room. I believe it was a fatal accident, but of course it makes you think,” she added.
Athletic Club are fifth with 15 points, seven behind Real Madrid, who are second. “It can be a match to see where we are and what we can aspire to.
Whatever the result, I think we have the squad to aim high and finish as high as possible in the table,” Ortega said. “We don’t look much at our position, there is a long season ahead, but finishing in European places is an ambitious goal.
For me, playing in the Champions League with Athletic would be a dream, and I hope we can qualify this season.”
Athletic Club remain the third-youngest squad in the league, with an average age of 24.9, but Ortega said the team is no longer a “Baby Athletic” side. “We have experience, but we are still young, right?” she said.
“I think we are playing football that interests a lot of people. We are keeping a lot of possession, building from the back, and have rhythm, intensity and energy that are producing good results.
I am very happy because it is a style that suits my characteristics and how I like to play.”
Ortega has played eight of her team’s nine matches this season, starting and coming off the bench in equal numbers, scoring one goal and providing two assists. “I didn’t have pre-season because I was injured, but I am happy to keep adding minutes and give the best of myself to the team, whether as a starter or a substitute.
I am now at 100% and ready to contribute wherever the coach says,” she said. “We are all very happy with Víctor (Martín).
He trusts me a lot, and what he asks is that I be bold and brave and give the team my maximum.”
Ortega has made 117 appearances for Athletic Club, scoring nine goals, and is one of the team’s leading players. Her performances, quality and progress have led to calls for a place in the Spanish senior national team.
“I am working very hard to bring out my best version. It would be a dream to receive that call, but I am calm and focused on my work so that the opportunity can come,” said the 154-centimeter forward, who this season has a physical trainer and a psychologist outside the club.
“It was a great thrill to see Clara (Pinedo) and Adri (Nanclares) in the latest squad, because it means we are doing things right, and I hope more of us are called up next time.”
“With the World Cup next summer, the excitement of being there grows. Both Sonia (Bermúdez) and Iraia (Iturregi) know me well, so I don’t need to say anything more than that I am ready,” she concluded.
