Fertiberia cannot overcome a direct rival away from home

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto had a golden opportunity to secure their first away win, but it was not to be. Nogués's side lost 28–23 to a direct rival who began the match with the same number of points. The red-and-white side felt the absence of Dija in the centre of the attack and paid dearly for their first-half finishing errors.

The match began evenly, with both teams level on 8 points in the standings and keen to take a step forward. The red-and-white side were the first to move ahead on the scoreboard, but little by little the home team, eager for victory, turned the score around and capitalised on Nogués's side's attacking mistakes to build an increasingly larger lead, going into half-time 17–12 ahead.

After the interval, the red-and-white side could do little more. The comebacks seen in recent matches at the Ovni proved impossible, and Nogués gave the younger players minutes in the closing stages when Valladolid had already broken the game open with a lead of more than five goals.

On Saturday, there will be another opportunity to pick up points against a higher-ranked side that has not made the start to the season expected of them, Fraikin Granollers. The match, corresponding to matchday 14 of the Liga Asobal, will take place at 18:00 at the Ovni and will be broadcast on the La Liga Sports TV app and TV Castelló.

Team sheet:

Recoletas Valladolid: Diego (1), Nicolás (2), Roberto, Adrián Fernández (5), Athur (4), Cersar Pérez, Álvaro Martínez, Miguer Martínez, Roberto Pérez (3), Roben Dourte (6), Alberto Francisco, Miguel Camino (1), Manuel García (3), Diego Pérez, Victor Rodríguez (3).

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Jaka (3), Mirallave (5), Leo Querín (1), Bruixola, Camacho (1), Adrián Ribes, Corzo (6), Iñigo Celorrio, Toni Alegre (2), Tello (2), Óscar García (2), Ángel López (1) and Pozzer (1).

Score progression: 3–4, 7–6, 10–7, 13–8, 15–11, 17–12, 19–13, 22–13, 23–15, 24–16, 27–19, 28–23

Officials: Sebastián Fernández Molina and Alberto Murillo Castro. Nicolás López, Alberto Francisco and Victor Rodríguez Costas were excluded for Valladolid. Jaka and Pozzer were excluded for Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.