There are comebacks, and then there are comebacks that mean a little bit more.
For Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa captain Raquel Peña, known as Pisco, returning to the pitch after 444 days away was about far more than simply playing a few minutes of pre-season football.
The Gran Canarian defender came on in the 80th minute against Athletic Club during the team’s training camp in Tafalla. It was her first appearance since 18 May 2025, when she played against Real Sociedad.
In between those two matches came a full season on the sidelines, surgery and a long period of physical and mental recovery.
Pisco has now set her sights firmly on the new season.
“The sensations are very positive”
After such a long spell away, getting back on the pitch has understandably been a big moment.
“The sensations are very positive,” Pisco said. “Now I just have to keep working, keep adding minutes with the team and contribute everything the coach and the team need.”
For a player who spent the entire previous campaign watching from the sidelines, simply feeling like a footballer again is clearly significant.
Her injury was an osteochondral problem in her right knee, which required surgery in November.
The recovery was not just a physical challenge.
The mental battle was the hardest part
Pisco admits that the mental side of missing an entire season was the toughest part.
“The negative part of last season, the part that was hardest for me to deal with, was the mental side,” she explained.
She knew surgery was necessary if she wanted to continue playing at the highest level and enjoy the sport she is so passionate about.
That gave her something to focus on.
“I had to go through surgery to keep playing football at the highest level and enjoy this sport that I am so passionate about.”
And she wasn’t doing it alone.
“Being surrounded by my people, my partner and my family, helped me stay mentally strong and set myself the goal of reaching this season and feeling like a footballer again.”
That’s probably the bit that gets lost when we talk about sporting injuries. The rehabilitation exercises are one thing. Spending week after week knowing everyone else is playing while you’re watching is something else entirely.
Wearing the captain’s armband
Pisco will continue as first captain of Costa Adeje Tenerife, something she describes as both an honour and a responsibility.
“To be first captain of this team, with this badge and at this club, is a source of pride,” she said.
The four captains have an important role within the squad, particularly at the start of a new season when new players and younger members of the squad are finding their feet.
Pisco says this year’s arrivals have made that job relatively easy.
“The new players and the girls who have come up from the reserve team have made it very easy for us because we formed a group from the first week.”
That can only be a good thing.
Can Costa Adeje repeat last season?
The Tenerife side finished fourth in Liga F last season and reached the semi-finals of the Copa de la Reina, setting a fairly high bar for the campaign ahead.
Pisco isn’t pretending it will be easy to match those achievements.
“Every season is like starting from zero for us,” she said.
The aim is to equal last season’s achievements or get as close as possible, with Pisco confident that the squad has the quality to compete.
One of the biggest changes is the departure of Natalia Ramos.
But Pisco believes the team has enough strength across the squad to cope.
“It has been shown that no player is indispensable in this team. The club has made a great effort so that Natalia Ramos’ absence is felt as little as possible.”
Barcelona first up
The season doesn’t exactly ease Costa Adeje Tenerife gently into things.
Their opening fixture is against Barcelona, the reigning champions.
Pisco actually sees some positives in facing them straight away.
“Having Barça in the first match can be positive for us because, beforehand, all the teams assume they will lose points when they face them.”
The timing could also work in Tenerife’s favour, with Barcelona potentially still finding their rhythm at the beginning of the campaign.
“We’ll try to make things as difficult as possible for them so they don’t feel comfortable.”
It certainly isn’t the easiest way to start a season, but there are worse opportunities to cause a surprise.
Still plenty left to give
At some point, every footballer has to think about life after playing.
Pisco admits she finds it difficult to imagine hanging up her boots.
But when that day eventually arrives, she would like to remain involved in football and, ideally, stay connected to Costa Adeje Tenerife.
“I would like to continue linked to football, to the team that has given me everything, and be able to share all the experience I have gained over so many years as a footballer with all those girls.”
Given what she’s just been through, there’s still plenty of football left before that becomes a serious conversation.
A message to the fans
Pisco’s message to supporters is much the same as every season, but after a year away, it probably carries a little more weight.
“Support us, row with us… when we need it most, looking at the stands and seeing all our people encouraging and cheering us on gives us an extra boost that we need to compete at our best.”
Her final message was simple.
“Get on this boat with us and help us achieve beautiful things this new season.”
After 444 days waiting to get back on the pitch, Pisco is finally back on board herself.