Alser BM Puerto Sagunto seek a breath of fresh air in Logroño

Alser BM Puerto Sagunto visit the Palacio de los Deportes de Logroño to face Naturhouse La Rioja this Saturday the 17th from 20:00. The match is part of the 21st league round and comes after the break in the competition for the Copa del Rey. They go into the match in 8th and 16th place respectively.

 Alberto Estornell’s side are preparing for their final training sessions before leaving for Logroño on Saturday itself. In recent days, the red-and-whites have strengthened their squad with two new signings, Fernando Latorre and Sergio Berrios, for the remainder of the season. Both players have more than enough Asobal experience, with the aim of securing survival in their second season in Asobal. Alser have not forgotten the victory over Naturhouse at home; that fact gives the supporters and team a boost of optimism as they seek their first win away from Valencian territory. For this match, the Valencian coach will have his full complement available, in addition to the signings, with goalkeeper Pachi Peg recovered from his calf problem at the ideal time. Once again, however, the semi-professional status of many of his players means that David Bruixola, a national police officer by profession, cannot take part because of the extra shifts Valencia faces during its Fallas weekend.

That is life for Alser in this league: some clubs run up debts and delay payments, while others suffer the inconveniences that come with not spending more than they have. In addition to Bruixola’s absence, Dockic and Muiña will again miss the match this week.

 The side coached by Jota González have not won since 18 December, and that is a heavy burden to carry. The coach will be without the already known absentees Unai Arrieta and Gurutz Aguinagalde, as well as Sasha Tioumentsev, who recently underwent surgery. With all this in mind, the Riojan side, featuring former red-and-white player Prce, welcome Alser aiming for a victory that will lift morale and help them make amends for the unexpected defeat in the first half of the season at the Ovni.

 In short, although this match pits two teams enduring poor runs against each other, both are looking to break them in this fixture. Alser BM Puerto Sagunto, with renewed energy, aim to surprise their opponents and push as hard as possible to earn points away from home; there are no longer any irrelevant matches for the Asobal league’s bottom side.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.