Trip to Ibiza with the aim of picking up another two points

[caption id=attachment_18263 align=alignleft width=1024] Matheus de Novais in an attacking move in the first-leg match / PEPA CONESA[/caption]

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto travel to Ibiza this Saturday to face Handbol Club Eivissa at the Es Pratet Municipal Pavilion from 19:30, in a match corresponding to matchday 23 of the Men's División de Honor Plata.

 

After narrowly losing (28-29) last Saturday in the Valencian Community derby against Horneo EÓN Alicante, the red-and-whites are looking to pick up the two points again after failing to win any of their last three matches.

 

“We go into it with positive energy after Saturday's match; we defended very well and in attack we returned to our usual figures with 28 goals. That is the line we have to follow,” says Toni Malla, coach of Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto, regarding the team's feelings.

 

Their opponents will be Handbol Club Eivissa, 10th in the competition and coming off a 19-19 draw against Club Balonmano Alcobendas in the last round. The first-leg match was played less than two months ago, on 11 January, as the original date had been postponed because of the DANA that affected the Valencian Community in October. The Puerto Sagunto side won comfortably at the Port de Sagunt Pavilion, 34-26.

 

“The match will not be like the first-leg game, when they were missing players. They have recovered players and have also brought in more, circumstances that mean they are now a squad with more resources,” Malla notes regarding the latest meeting between the Valencian and Ibizan sides.

 

Handbol Club Eivissa announced the signings of two new players last week with the aim of retaining their place in the division. The first was Franco Gavidia, a 33-year-old Argentine defensive specialist with previous experience in Spain. The latest arrival was 21-year-old Carlos Gómez, on loan from Bathco Balonmano Torrelavega, where he had been training with the first team.

 

“They have become particularly strong at home in recent rounds, and they know that many of their hopes of securing survival depend on that. This makes the match even more difficult,” Malla recalls. In their last home match, they emphatically defeated Blendio Sinfín Santander 37-29.

 

“Our aim is to take another step forward. We know that if we win the two points, we will be closer to the objective we set ourselves: qualifying for the promotion play-offs,” concludes the red-and-white coach.

 

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.