Saturday, January 23 was played a friendly match between Athletic Club Bilbao women, first of the championship of Spain, and Asj Soyaux Charente, current 8th of D1 French.

This meeting was organized by the club of Arin Luzien with the presence of the president of the district of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a certain Jean Michel Larqué, at the club of St Jean de Luz in the Kechiloa stadium.

A beautiful setting in the city center at the foot of the Pyrenees where reigned a sweet spring, with two teams come to play and keep pace during the international break.

The motivations were different on both sides. For Bilbao, it was to rotate and give playing time to the youth of the club while being led by executives like Eli Ibarra. For Soyaux, this trip was like a breath of fresh air, a way to play without a stake except to be in team to resume this complicated league this season.

Everything came together for a great football evening, but at the whistle given by referee Vanessa Cruchon, we were a thousand places to think that this match would offer a show that will remain unforgettable.

The appearance of bullfighting ...
From the beginning of the match, we understand that there will be friendly only the name or the spirit between these two teams, because for the rest the 22 actresses will engage in duels to the appearance of bullfighting.

9th minute, Marie Aurelle Awona launches on a beautiful cross, Gwendoline Djebar, part at the edge of the offside, is face to face with Aitziber Corrales and plant the first banderille.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Siga Tandia, captain of the day, is at the entrance to the surface, she passes by for Maud Hurault who triggers a magnificent strike. The Spanish goalkeeper may fly away, the ball is at the bottom and Soyaux already leads 2-0.

Do not fall back into the usual way ...
Bilbao develops a counter game and in the 21st Maddi Torre recovers a lost ball in the center circle by the Sojaldician defense, she goes back to the pitch setting the defense and launches her captain Eli Ibarra on the left, the latter opens the Spanish counter. a cross shot at the far post.

At the half-hour mark, Laura Bourgouin on a free kick finds the head of Gwendoline Djebbar, strangely alone in this static and slow defense, for a 3-1 amply deserved.

But Bilbao will not give up, even if his defense, which lacks a little experience plays high, this team has resources and especially she knows that Soyaux, despite the score, is not reassured.

Just before half-time, on a Spanish corner, Maddi Torre placed his head and reduced the mark.

Bilbao has one knee on the ground but they do not bend and at the break the only question we ask is, Soyaux will he fold the match or fall back into his sadness unfortunately how much?

Killing in 12 minutes ...
From the 20th minute to the 32nd, Soyaux will develop a game close to perfection. Starting with this center Anna Clérac continued by Allison Blais who throws to cross his shot, Lydia Belkacémi, alone at the entrance to the surface that places a shot under the crossbar leaving no chance to the Spanish door, Maud Hurault elusive on his right side, which is two times with rage to register a double and the end of the end, the killing, orchestrated by Viviane Boudaud returned during the game, trying a shooting center that ends in the opposite window. 7-2 for Soyaux.

In short there was nothing to do against this Soyaux there ...

A breath of fresh air before recovery ...
But then what lessons to learn from this meeting? Admittedly, Bilbao was not complete and his defense was playing too high, but that does not explain the metamorphosis between the Soyaux of Saturday and that of this season!

It seems to me that it is simply the desire that changed everything in this match, yes the desire to move forward together, to support the other and not to let go, the desire to try, to hit the goal , the desire to make choices in the game and no matter the mistakes, the desire to fight collectively for others, the desire to take risks and pleasure, to have fun and to please us .

It is this Soyaux there that all the supporters of the blue want to see, this is the game, punctuated by risk taking but daring that the fans are waiting!

Try ... Dare ... Play to please yourself as if the stakes did not exist.

This end of the championship will be easier to play if the sojaldiciennes apprehend all the next deadlines as they have faced Bilbao.

The big winner of this evening remains the women's football thanks to the organizers of this match that we thank.

Author and Photos: Manu Cahu