Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto want to win the derby

This Saturday from 8.30 pm, Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto face the other Valencian Community team in the Bauhaus Asobal league, BM Benidorm. The match will be broadcast live on Movistar + (Channel 62).

The red-and-whites are looking for the shelter of the Ovni to return to winning ways after two away defeats, although with very different impressions. Pachi Martí’s side put in an excellent performance in Puente Genil and could have won the match, whereas in Granollers, in the second half, the team produced its worst display of the 2015-2016 season so far.

As always, this match has all the ingredients needed to enjoy handball: two Valencian coaches, Martí and Latorre, who know each other inside out; two teams meeting for the third time since August, with Fertiberia winning both previous encounters; and a venue that, as always, will be dressed in its finest.

The teams arrive with contrasting feelings and eager to find out which version of themselves will appear. Latorre’s side come off a pre-season with more shadows than highlights and two opening matches that raised concerns, but they are holding on to their most recent match at L’Illa, where BM Benidorm overcame Puente Genil with arguments similar to the best Benidorm of last season—something not yet seen in Alicante.

Fertiberia’s Valencians hope that their final 30 minutes in Granollers were merely an isolated lapse, and that the Ovni can vibrate with the kind of performance shown in their opening match against Cuenca, where Martí’s side performed at a very high level.

In terms of absences, the Valencians still cannot call on Alegre and Bernatonis, and captain Rubén Ruiz has joined them, still struggling with his ankle. The Alicante side remain without defensive cornerstone Danil Chernov or new signing Victor Sáez, both of whom are still expected to be out for some time.

In short, this will be a genuine celebration of Valencian handball, with two teams looking to add points two at a time as soon as possible so they do not face difficulties in their aim of remaining part of the Bauhaus Asobal league for many years to come.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.