Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto travel to Logroño with little to lose

This Wednesday from 8.30 pm, with Movistar + cameras broadcasting live (Star Match. Multideporte 5, Dial 195), Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto face Naturhouse La Rioja of Logroño in a match corresponding to Round 22 of the Liga Bauhaus Asobal.

Nikola Milos’s side, who will travel by road to Logroño on Wednesday morning, are hoping to take at least a point from one of the league’s most difficult venues. However, the fact that these are not two points that are marked on the calendar as essential for securing survival could provide an opportunity to cause a surprise at the Palacio. It would not be the first time, as two seasons ago the red-and-whites arrived without their then-star player Michael Apelgren and managed to earn a draw against the team that was also second in the league at the time.

The Croatian coach Nikola Milos does not want any drop in intensity at this stage of the season. Although this week’s two matches are against two genuine giants—Naturhouse and Barcelona on Saturday—the Valencian club wants to turn up the pressure on its players to secure survival as soon as possible. It is not yet known whether survival will require three or five points, following Aragón’s announced withdrawal, which would seriously harm the red-and-white side’s interests: Teucro lost their points against the Aragonese, while the Valencians won in Zaragoza.

As for absences, the treatment room remains occupied by Rolandas Bernatonis, who has been medically cleared but will possibly not play despite travelling. Alfredo Sorrentino’s knee is also a concern and he is doubtful due to discomfort. The player who will not feature for the rest of the season is Jaén-born Sergio Berrios, who will undergo surgery by Dr Nebot on his right knee after rupturing his cruciate ligament in the match against Villa de Aranda.

Jota Gonzalez’s side, for their part, will surely have learnt their lesson after the unexpected defeat at Alcalde Salas in Puente Genil, where they dropped two points. They will certainly not want to continue losing opportunities to retain their status as a Champions League team, which their second-place position grants them.

In short, an uneven contest in which the Valencians will have to give their very best to remain in contention for victory. There is no doubt that the match will hinge on the Valencian defence and the form of their goalkeeper David Bruixola, who would benefit from a low-scoring game to prevent Naturhouse from pulling away and force them to enter the final minutes with doubts. We shall see whether Fertiberia can meet such a challenge for sixty minutes.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.