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2022/23 preview: Femení start new season

RCD Espanyol Femení prepare for Primera RFEF opener

RCD Espanyol Femení return to competitive action this weekend as the 2022/23 season gets underway.

Espanyol will compete in the Primera RFEF with huge hopes and high expectations, having finished second last season by the finest of margins. Marc Cabestany’s side open the new campaign by facing Fundación Albacete to the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque.

 

The squad

Espanyol have a familiar face leading the line this season in Adriana Martín, who is back for a second spell.

The striker returned to the club from SS Lazio at the start of 2022, having played in the blanquiazul shirt from 2005 to 2009, and will be vying to hit the ground running with plenty of goals and contributions up front.

Adriana is part of the captain quartet leading the first team, alongside midfielders Cristina Baudet and Carolina Marín, and defender Marta Turmo. Elsewhere, goalkeeper Emily Dolan is a new addition having joined from Sporting Club de Huelva.

 

Pre-season preparations

August saw Espanyol play four pre-season matches in the buildup to the start of the Primera RFEF, forming a crucial part of Cabestany’s preparations.

The Femení hit CE Europa for five in an overwhelming victory, followed by a goalless draw with Levante Las Planas away from home. However, there were defeats to Valencia CF and Levante UD either side, nonetheless important parts of pre-season.

Espanyol concluded pre-season with a final friendly at the start of this month against Villarreal CF. A goal apiece soon after the start of the second half saw them come away with a 1-1 draw, as pre-season came to a close and heralded in the new season.   

 

Expectations

Last season saw Espanyol just miss out on instant promotion back to the first division. As the new campaign is set to get underway and, as summer signing Dolan explained, the objectives are crystal clear for the Femení.

In an interview with Espanyol Media, which is available in full here, Dolan said, “As a team, the objective is very clear. We want to get promoted into the top division. A club that is as historic and important to the history of women's football in this country, it's where a club like this deserves to be.”

She added, “Everybody understands that there's a very high expectation for this team and we don't shy away from that. We accept that responsibility, we're going to give everything that we can to this club to represent Espanyol the way it deserves to be represented.”