Barça and the Copa del Rey arrive for the Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto Academy celebration

This Tuesday from 20:15, the Ovni will host another edition of the Copa del Rey. It will be a single-leg round-of-16 tie, against none other than the reigning champions, the unstoppable FC Barcelona. The draw has certainly not been kind to Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto. If there is anyone in Spanish handball whom beating seems like a fantasy, it is the blaugrana side. If it is impossible in the league, in a competition where defeat eliminates them from one of their usual titles, the prospect seems even more utopian.

But Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto wants to turn Tuesday afternoon into a genuine celebration and a demonstration of strength. At 18:00, before the match, the nearly 400 young players who play handball under the Fertiberia banner are due to attend. They range from the five youngest teams, through the 17 under-12 teams, to the older players from the 11 federated teams, from under-14 level to Asobal. It is a superb academy, the most powerful in Valencia province.

And in front of their entire academy and loyal supporters, Pachi Martí’s men will certainly try to put in the best performance possible and stand up to Barcelona, at least as far as they can.

Following the competitive break for the national team internationals, Pachi Martí is looking to get the squad back into the rhythm of matches. He has all his players available, although he is waiting to see how the Lithuanians Bernatonis and Malansiskas arrive, as they are landing in Valencia that very Tuesday.

Xavi Pascual, for his part, has not had 11 first-team players available during this preceding week. Without their participation in training, the blaugrana side will travel to Puerto Sagunto on Tuesday to play the Copa round of 16. “We have prepared for the match. We played recently and have an analysis of the opponent. We must remember that it is a single-leg tie away from home; we will see how the internationals arrive. The players are still arriving, and not everyone will be here until Monday afternoon,” Pascual explained. Fifteen first-team players will travel to Puerto Sagunto. Only Rutenka, recovering from a sprained ankle in his right leg, will remain in Barcelona.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.