Fertiberia face another relegation final on Wednesday in Villa de Aranda

Vicent Nogués: We are playing for 4 points, not 2, in a match that I think will be very close until the end

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto face Blasgon Bodegas Ceres Balonmano Villa de Aranda on Wednesday 17 March at 7.30 pm. The match, which will be played at the Prince of Asturias Pavilion, is matchday 23 of the Liga Sacyr ASOBAL and is effectively a relegation final between the teams second and fourth from bottom in the table. It will also mark the return of Villa de Aranda's supporters, with around 500 fans expected. The match can be followed live on the club's radio station on Villa de Aranda's official YouTube channel. The red-and-white coach will have all his players available except Dani Martínez, who is in preventive quarantine after a positive COVID-19 case was detected at the Spanish youth national team's training camp.

The red-and-white coach, Vicent Nogués, says that in Villa de Aranda they will be playing for ‘A relegation final in the Sacyr ASOBAL League. They are a team from our league and we are playing for four points: the two we can win and the two they lose if we secure victory. It is very important to take points against teams from our league and try to move out of the position we are in’.

Regarding the opponents, Vicent Nogués says that ‘They are a very intense, combative team in which everyone fights. They have plenty of movement in attack and great defensive intensity. Here at home we saw that they never gave up, even though the match was not going their way. We cannot rely on the home match because Wednesday's match in Aranda will be completely different. It will be an extremely tough contest fought until the end, and we have to try to win the points, come what may’.

‘The team are very focused. We have spent two weeks preparing for the match, we are eager to move out of the bottom area, and everything depends on winning the match there in Aranda. The team are fully committed, everyone is fit, and hopefully on Wednesday we will perform at the required level and win the two points’, adds Nogués regarding Wednesday's final in Aranda.

Regarding this being the first match that Villa de Aranda's supporters will be able to attend, Nogués says: ‘We are eager for people to return to the pavilions. Unfortunately, we have repeatedly faced opponents whose supporters were attending for the first time, but there can be no excuses in these matches: we have to try to win the points and hope that, by our first match with spectators, which will be on Saturday, we will have a little more breathing space’.

Supporters return to the Ovni

On Saturday 20 March, in the match against Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil, the team will not be alone, as the red-and-white supporters are returning to the Ovni. The board is already working on the supporters' return and, once again, under measures imposed by the Generalitat and Sagunto Town Hall, there will be a capacity of 150 people. Specifically, members M276 to M408 and their linked members will be admitted, as will F86, F123, F136, F144, F146, F151, F167, F172 and F192 and their linked members. Members who can attend should arrive in sufficient time to undergo the COVID-19 checks and safety measures. It should also be remembered that presenting an identity card is compulsory, as the pass is non-transferable; this requirement also applies to children under 10. Linked members must enter together with the ‘main’ members.

COVID-19 measures for matches with spectators

Below we recall the safety measures for matches with spectators at the OVNI: spectators must not leave their seats during the interval. The public will not be allowed access to the court. Only authorised seats may be used; unusable seats will be marked. The pavilion may only be entered through the main door, where all attendees will have their temperature taken. There will be a disinfectant mat, and the use of hand sanitiser will be compulsory both when entering and leaving the pavilion. Correct use of a face mask will also be required. Entry to and exit from the pavilion through any door other than the main door will not be permitted’.

Regarding the members who will be able to enter the Ovni: ‘a rota will be established, starting with the longest-standing members and their family groups. In subsequent matches, the rota will move on. This will allow us to avoid having to complete the personal-details form required by the Health Department on entry, since the attending members will be identified and their details are already held by the Club. A safety distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained at all times.

Members must attend the match with this season's membership card; no other people will be admitted except those indicated. No other supporters from either team may attend. Children who are members may enter in their corresponding turn, accompanied by adults who will be responsible for compliance with all the rules, particularly the safety distance. Children who are not members may not enter the pavilion’.

Regarding the use of the pavilion's facilities, attendees are asked to use the toilets as little as possible. They will also operate a system based on their reduced capacity, in order to limit movement within the facility and maintain the safety distance. We must avoid crowds both when entering and leaving the facility, always maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres, even once we are outside the pavilion. We recommend that people bring water from home, as it will not be possible to leave.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.