Atlético Madrid: Spanish bear lying in wait

In Madrid, where the streets are steeped in history, there is a symbol that captures the soul of the city: the bear clinging to the strawberry tree, proudly enthroned at the Puerta del Sol. Anyone who lingers in its shadow can feel the beating heart of Madrid. This image, so full of pride and hope, is also found in the Atlético Madrid crest. And it is a spirit that certainly prevails among the club’s women’s team.

On Wednesday evening, FC Bayern Women will face the Spanish side in a competitive match for the first time. Ahead of the game, fcbayern.com takes a look at the club's eventful history, their current form and the players that the Munich Frauen will need to keep a close eye on.

Successful start and abrupt end

When Atlético first established a women's football division in 1989, it seemed like the dawn of a new era. The team won the title in its very first year (1990). But the dream was short-lived. Just two years later, the team was disbanded, at a time when women's football was still struggling for recognition.

A period of silence followed, but the spirit never completely disappeared. Step by step, women's football fought its way back into the limelight in Madrid. In 2001, Atlético Féminas was formed as an independent women's team, which was incorporated into the club four years later. Just one year later, the big leap was made as Atleti were promoted to the Primera División as second division champions. It was the start of a development characterised by perseverance and steady growth, even if the first few years in Spain's top flight were still dominated by the big names from Barcelona and Bilbao. But the foundation had been laid, and the path to the top seemed clear.

Start of a golden era

In 2015, Atlético qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time, finishing second in the domestic league. In their debut season on the European stage, the Spanish side reached the round of 16 at the first attempt – a remarkable achievement, even if their journey came to an end there against eventual winners Lyon. But it was precisely this milestone that seemed to unleash new energy within the club. What followed was the most successful era in their history.

In that same season, Atlético secured their second major title by winning the Copa de la Reina in 2016. But that wasn't all. In the following campaign, they achieved a major coup by being crowned champions of Spain for the first time in their current form, finishing 2016/17 undefeated and three points ahead of Barcelona. However, that triumph was only the beginning. The Rojiblancas repeated this feat in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. It was during these years that Atlético finally became one of the leading lights of Spanish women's football, featuring players who are now among the best-known names on the scene, such as Esther González, who is now under contract with Gotham FC in the USA.

Records and reality

The people of Madrid proved their love for Atleti in March 2019, when a staggering 60,739 spectators flocked to the Estadio Metropolitano. It was a moment that went down in history as a world record in women's club football at the time. On the pitch, however, Atlético were unable to build on their glory days in the following years. Time and again, they had to settle for second place behind the all-conquering Barcelona and their city rivals from Madrid. The Atleti women’s last title came in 2021, when they won the Spanish Super Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Levante.

This season, Víctor Martín's team are still searching for the perfect balance. With seven wins, four draws and two defeats, Atlético currently occupy fourth place in the Spanish Liga F. The Madrid side got off to a flying start in the Women's Champions League. After coming through qualifying, they enjoyed a big 6-0 victory away at St. Pölten at the start of the league stage. In the following matches, they fought close battles with top European teams such as Juventus (2-1 loss) and Manchester United (1-0 loss), before most recently securing a comfortable 4-0 win at Twente. Particularly noteworthy is that Atlético have the third-best defence in the entire competition – proof of how difficult this team is to beat.

Players to watch

Las Colchoneras also have players in attack who deserve special attention. In Fiamma Benítez and Luany, Atlético have two young, dynamic attackers who are a constant threat to the opposition's goal. Benítez shares the top spot in the combined goals and assist chart in this year's Champions League season with Bayern's Klara Bühl, both having been involved in six goals each. Their attacking potential is complemented by Gaby García, Synne Jensen and Vilde Bøe Risa, who bring additional quality and international experience to the team. Jensen and Bøe Risa, together with Tatiana Pinto, all competed at the European Championships in the summer.

A true club icon has been standing in the Atleti goal for almost a decade. Captain Lola Gallardo has been wearing the Madrid jersey for 12 years – except a brief spell at Lyon between 2020 and 2021 – and has played more than 200 games for the club.

Bayern claimed a big win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday: