It’s make or break time for Atlético Femenino

José Luis Sánchez’s women have two more must-win matches ahead of them in order to retain their Liga Iberdrola crown.

Atlético Femenino are in a crucial period of the season, as there are six more points at stake until the end of the season. At the moment, Atlético are top on 78 points, three points ahead of Barcelona. Atleti won their game in hand on Monday as they went to Espanyol and beat the Catalans 1-0 following a 31st minute Angela Sosa goal.

Atlético had taken home victories in their past outings — 4-0 away over Levante, 3-1 over Real Betis and 0-3 away against Sporting Huelva.

Forward Jenni Hermoso was one of the team’s best players, scoring five goals in the three appointments including a hat-trick against Levante.

In the final two fixtures, Atlético will host eighth-place Valencia before they wrap up their commitments against Real Sociedad on May 5, in what they hope will be the day they will celebrate the title.

Sociedad will also be Atleti’s opponents in the Copa de la Reina final the following week at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, in Granada.

Important renewals

In the past week, there has been some positive news off the field as well.

Coach José Luis Sánchez Vera has extended his stay at the helm of the team until 2021. After a spell at Atlético Madrid B, Sanchez Vera took over the senior side in June 2018.

Meanwhile, the club has also extended Angela Sosa’s contract until 2022. The Spanish international joined the club in 2014 and throughout her five years at the club has won the Copa de la Reina in 2016 and the league twice, in 2017 and 2018. She is also one of the players who has marked 100 appearances at the club.

In the meantime, reports from Barcelona have Hermoso with a return to the Catalunya side. She already donned the Barcelona colours between 2013 and 2016, where she won two championships and the domestic cup.

Summer appointments

Atlético will be part of the second ever International Champions Cup for women’s teams this summer — that competition will be held in the United States.

The other participants will be French giants Olympique Lyon, England’s Manchester City and North Carolina Courage of the United States.

All games will be held at the 10,000-seat WakeMed Soccer Park in North Carolina between Aug. 15 and Aug. 18.

International duties

During the recent international break, Spain played two high-profile games against Brazil and England.

Against the Brazilian national team, Spain put in a commanding showing with a 2-1 win. Hermoso and Amanda Sampedro played crucial roles in the victory, with the former also setting up the assist for the equalizer scored by Barcelona’s Alexi Putellas.

In the away game against England, Spain fell short as they lost 2-1.