MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 04: Amaiur Sarriegi of Atletico Madrid celebrates a goal during the Spanish Women Cup, Copa de la Reina, Quarterfinal match between Atletico de Madrid and Athletic Club de Bilbao at Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcala de Henares stadium on February 04, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty ImagesRicky MenéndezTue, February 10, 2026 at 2:23 AM UTC·4 min readOn another cold night at Alcalá de Henares night last Wednesday, a few hundred die-hard fans enjoyed watching Atlético de Madrid Femenino thump Athletic Club in the Copa de la Reina quarterfinals by a 4-1 scoreline. It was certainly a much-needed win after 76 forgettable days for the ladies, who face a reality check after their worst stretch in recent memory.
Since a long-forgotten win over Twente in the Women’s Champions League back in November, Atleti Femenino failed to win for 10 games. Four points in seven games (3 losses and 4 draws) plummeted Atleti to sixth place in Liga F. They barely made it through to the UWCL knockout stage (a draw and a loss in the same stint). The only positive aspect to hold on to was a last-minute penalty shootout win against bottom-of-the-league Alhama in the Copa de la Reina’s last 16.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut when rivals Real Madrid eliminated the rojiblancas from the Supercup by a 3-1 scoreline, coach Victor Martín was shown the door, and the club welcomed new boss José Herrera on a contract to the end of the season.
In Spanish a popular saying goes like this: “A entrenador nuevo, victoria segura” (a new coach is a win secured). Atleti Femenino did not seem to believe in the saying as Herrera, with Liga F and Arabian football experience, could only get a draw on his first night on the bench versus Granada. Only four days later he did get his first win in la Copa.
“We are Atleti, we cannot have respite, even after this much needed win,” Herrera said after that match.
But seeing their team win had become a bit like experiencing a UFO sighting for rojiblanca fans, so hopes were high visiting Levante on Sunday. Femenino’s ridiculous winless streak, the one that dated back to November, was put more firmly in the rearview as Silvia Lloris’ seventh-minute goal secured a 1-0 win.
So what are the reasons that have left the woes in the rear view mirror?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt definitely isn’t a change in players, as the new signings (Pri Chinchilla and Kathrine Kühl) are, for the moment, not consistent starters at all. Similar players have been playing as the ones Victor Martín lined up in the past, minus Gaby and Ana Vitoria (two starters that were surprisingly — and disappointingly — transferred during the January window).
The focus for Herrera was on making the defense more solid. Lloris, Lauren Leal and Carmen Menayo are now the solid, experienced line of center-backs that form the backbone of the team. This gives Andrea Medina and Alexia Fernández the capacity to play as wingers offensively, making the team more versatile. Julia Bartel, Boe Risa and Fiamma Benitez are the associative midfielders that build for forwards Amaiur Sarriegi and Synne Jensen.
In Herrera’s new Atleti, fiery winger Luany has been displaced to a secondary role. The Brazilian has not started in either of the wins under the new coach and seems to have become collateral damage amid the coaching change. As superstar Gio Garbelini returns to the team after a long-term injury, it remains to be seen how she will fit in Herrera’s new Atleti. They desperately need the boost that Gio’s talent brings to the table. It does feel however that the club waited too long to make coaching changes in order to have any realistic hopes for the rest of the season, except for the Copa run.
Atleti would have to beat Manchester United, Bayern Munich and probably Barcelona to reach the Champions League final. The feat in Liga F is equally steep. With 11 games to go, Atleti have to collect 11 points more than Real Sociedad and beat Adeje Tenerife in the race for a Champions League spot next season (the first three teams qualify). Those two teams mentioned and Real Madrid are the big rivals in the Liga race, making things even more complicated for Atleti.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAll hopes lie on making it to a Copa final (like the men’s team at this point, it would seem). Two mid-March games against Tenerife could secure a last shot for an Atleti side that has had a season to forget so far, but could try to make a final push for a last shot at a title this season. The disappointment would not fully fade as we will see probably not get to see Atleti in the next edition of the Women’s Champions League.
A Copa win would likely make up for a bad season, but the questions in the air about team building and long-term plans for the Femenino will remain in the air in these final months as Atlético prepare for a new ownership which will hopefully have a clearer vision for the future of the ladies’ team.
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