Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto face Naturhouse La Rioja this Saturday at the Palacio de Deportes de la Rioja from 20:00. The red-and-white team, who are coming off a win against GlobalCaja Ciudad Encantada, will approach the match with fond memories of last season, when they earned a point at the difficult La Rioja venue.
The red-and-whites enter the third round with one defeat and one victory to their name; the latter has given the team a boost after their poor start to the league. Patxi Martí’s men are aware of the challenge ahead, and will travel with the clear aim of competing hard in order to take at least a point from a side who are favourites on paper. For Aidenas Malasinskas, it will be a special match as he returns to his former home, but this time he will face the La Rioja supporters, to whom he will surely want to prove that he is still performing at a high level.
Naturhouse La Rioja, meanwhile, go into the encounter in third place in the table after two victories. ‘Jota’ González’s side have strengthened considerably with the arrival of some legends of Spanish handball, such as ‘Juanín’ García and Albert Rocas. The La Rioja side will try to claim both points and make home advantage count, having conceded just one defeat and two draws at home last season.
In short, Fertiberia face the challenge of matching last season’s achievement by taking a point in Logroño, allowing them to approach the next home match with high morale.
Translation produced using artificial intelligence.
