Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto aim to extend their dream all the way to the final

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto face Naturhouse La Rioja this Friday at 21:30, with Teledeporte broadcasting live, in the second semi-final of the XXXVIII Copa del Rey handball tournament being held in Logroño, intending to continue making history after 44 years without reaching a semi-final and secure a place in the final against the hosts.

To do so, they will have to draw on their enthusiasm and determination in a hall that will be packed with supporters from La Rioja, as the hosts are playing at home, but they will also be strongly backed by more than 200 red-and-white supporters travelling to Logroño. The red-and-whites arrive with some physical problems in their squad: Mateu Castellà has knee trouble, Javier Tarrasó has a slightly strained calf after the match in Valladolid, and finally there is Sergio Berrios’s serious injury, which means he cannot finish the season after tearing his cruciate ligaments. Meanwhile, Valencian coach Vicent Nogués, after suffering two defeats in league meetings, believes that “this match will be different, because of the pressure the court will create and the extra effort that can be produced in a match of this stature; we will try to play to our strengths, while they will try to make the most of home advantage and the fact that they have greater potential”.

At an institutional level, the club will receive support at this historic occasion for Valencian handball from the Regional Minister for Culture and Sport, María José Catalá, accompanied by the Director General of Sport Mateo Castellá, the city’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Alfredo Castelló and Sergio Muniesa, who will be in the directors’ box supporting the club. Meanwhile, Naturhouse La Rioja already have their sights set on the semi-final and are taking nothing for granted against the red-and-white side. In their favour are two convincing league victories and the strong squad available to Jota González at full strength, although Miguel Ángel Velasco and Sasha Tioumentsev are doubts because of physical problems, while Rubén Garabaya and Pedro Rodríguez are both long-term absentees. It is therefore an important match for Fertiberia, as it represents a major challenge to overcome the speed and long-range shooting of the franjivino style of play. However, after the impressive performances in the previous two rounds, there is no doubt that the red-and-white supporters making the journey will witness a thrilling clash that will be remembered for years to come.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.