Antes del partido, la portera y la delantera hacían el calentamiento cerca de la portería.

and

Breakdown of Antes del partido, la portera y la delantera hacían el calentamiento cerca de la portería.

• antes de: before
• cerca de: near
• el partido: the match

Questions & Answers about Antes del partido, la portera y la delantera hacían el calentamiento cerca de la portería.

Why is it del partido and not de el partido?

Because del is the mandatory contraction of de + el in Spanish.

• de el partido → del partido
• This contraction is used almost every time de is followed by el

So Antes del partido literally breaks down as before the match.

One important exception: if El is part of a proper name, the contraction is not used, as in de El Escorial.

Why are portera and delantera feminine?

They are feminine because the sentence is referring to female players.

• el portero = the male goalkeeper
• la portera = the female goalkeeper
• el delantero = the male forward/striker
• la delantera = the female forward/striker

In Spanish, many role nouns change form depending on the gender of the person.

What is the difference between la portera and la portería?