Seville, final fixture before the international break

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto conclude three away fixtures in seven days before facing the international break. They will do so by visiting Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin this Sunday at the Amate Sports Centre, from 12:00, in a match corresponding to the eighth round of the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League.

The Puerto Sagunto side head into the match after securing their first away point last weekend (27-27) against Tubos Villa de Aranda at the Santiago Manguán Pavilion. During the week, they progressed from the first round of the LII Copa de S. M. el Rey of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation by defeating Confía Base Oviedo at the Vallobín Sports Centre. In the domestic competition, they sit ninth in the overall standings, with five points.

The Seville side were unable to play their cup tie against Anaitasuna, as it was postponed due to the railway accident that took place in Toledo province. They come into the match after suffering three consecutive league defeats, all against opponents competing in European competitions. The latest came away from home, with a 37-33 result against Bathco Torrelavega. They are just below the red-and-whites in the table, with one fewer point.

“They have strengthened their squad with players of international calibre. They have a highly experienced back line. They have also improved in goal. It is perhaps a squad built with other objectives in mind, but we know that every match is contested in this league, and that is our objective, of course,” Sergio Mallo described his opponents at the pre-match press conference.

Antonio García has been in charge of the Andalusian club since this season, replacing Víctor Montesinos. The squad contains many new faces compared with last season. The departures of Julio Morgado, Pablo Soler, Pepe Moguel, Ramón Fuentes, Juan Saco, Javi Castilla, Ángel Montoro and Miguel Llorens, now a player for the Valencian club, were offset by the arrivals of Rodrigo Salinas, Pablo Sánchez, Chema Márquez, Alfonso Rodríguez, Gerard Román de Mingo, Leo Terçariol, Pau López and Rolando Uríos.

With the campaign already under way, they have undergone a couple of changes. Just over a week ago, assistant coach Juan Martín del Boca left the club for family reasons. The back player Julián López Mon also left the team, in his case to join Impulse BM Guadalajara.

The most recent meeting between the Valencian Community and Andalusian sides took place in January this year, in the División de Honor Plata, at the same venue. On that occasion, the home side took both points with a 30-16 victory, in what was Sergio Mallo’s first match as Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto’s head coach.

“I am very happy to return there, this time in the top tier of national handball. I will meet up again with all the teammates and friends I made, and with the supporters, who treated me wonderfully. It will be very important for them, as they face a direct opponent like us. I am sure they will be eager to give their supporters the first victory at home,” added Miguel Llorens about what was once his home.

Puerto Sagunto supporters who wish to follow the match broadcast from afar can do so via the league’s OTT platform, ASOBAL TV, using the following link: https://www.streamwayplus.com/es/asobal-tv. 

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.