Time to make the point earned in Burgos count

This Saturday from 18:30, Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto host Confía Balonmano Base Oviedo at the Pabellón Port de Sagunt in the eighth round of the Men's División de Honor Plata.

The red-and-whites come off a hard-earned point (28-28) last Sunday at the Pabellón Municipal El Plantío against the main favourites for promotion to Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL, UBU San Pablo Burgos 2031. The Puerto Sagunto side have won every home match they have played: Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin (28-24), Club Balonmano Alcobendas (29-23) and Club Cisne Colegio Los Sauces (29-22). They will look to return to the play-off places, which they are currently outside (sixth, with nine points) on goal difference behind the Burgos side.

Meanwhile, the Oviedo side arrive in the Valencian Community on a run of three consecutive matches unbeaten: draws against Anaitasuna (27-27) and BM Contazara Zaragoza (24-24), and an away win against Club Balonmano Alcobendas (26-33). They are 11th in the overall standings with six points, setting the cut-off with the next team, Trops Málaga, who will play in the play-out at the end of the season.

“This is a very important round for us because, if we want to make the point earned in Burgos count, we must win this Saturday. We must not consider ourselves superior against a newly promoted opponent who, despite being newly promoted, has nothing to lose,” says Toni Malla regarding the importance of what is at stake.

Following the decision they received from the RFEBM at the end of the 2024 season, informing them that they would not regain their place in the current category during the 2024-2025 season, the team from the Asturian capital have returned to the Plata division after a year in the Men's Primera Nacional.

“They are playing very good handball. They defend in a very aggressive and deep manner; in attack they are capable of making one more pass and have very versatile players. We will have to be highly focused and serious, as in every match we have played at home so far,” says the Tortosa native about the team he coached in 2020-2021.

Daniel Bandrés remains in charge after renewing as head coach, as have a total of 12 players who were already part of the squad in the third tier of Spanish handball. They include the two pairs of brothers, Pérez (Tomás and Joaquín) and Pulgar (David and Gonzalo), as well as Juan Gamallo and Hélio Pina. The departures of Jaime González, Omar Alonso, Alejandro Bauer and Zakaria Rabhi have been covered by the arrivals of Pablo Granda, Mikel Galán, Juan Prieto, Jorge Ureña and Elián Goux.

As a preview, the club has prepared its usual Fan Zone with its own marquee, DJ, outdoor bar, autograph album distribution and target games for the youngest fans. In addition, inside the pavilion there will be stands from La Menorquina, a half-time competition and gifts thrown into the stands. After the match, the first-team squad will spend a few minutes signing the aforementioned albums.

Fans wishing to buy tickets to attend the match can do so in person or through the club's website. Tickets will cost 12 euros for purchases made before Saturday: www.cbmpuertosagunto.com/entradas/.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.