A depleted Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto lose in Cuenca

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto lost 27–20 to BM Ciudad Encantada in a match played at El Sargal on Friday evening.

 The Valencians arrived for this latest second-half preparatory fixture without three regular starters. In addition to Carlos Grau’s injury absence, Nacho Plaza was still recovering from the ankle sprain sustained with the Spanish national team, while first-choice goalkeeper David Bruixola was unavailable for work-related reasons.

 Despite everything, Fertiberia managed to stay in the match for forty minutes, when the score was 18–17. However, from that point onwards the Cuenca side took control and a devastating 9–3 run in the final twenty minutes condemned the red-and-whites to defeat. Pachi Martí said at the end of the match that “we played badly, were very short of rhythm and, logically, I also wanted everyone to play, as that is what these matches are for”. The Valencian coach also wanted to highlight two of his players “I want to congratulate reserve-team pivot Samuel del Rio, who performed at a very high level, and Marc Andreu, who is gradually getting used to the Asobal standard and played very well today.”

 With no time to recover, Fertiberia will play another high-level match tomorrow at 18:30 at the Ovni, this time facing the Saudi Arabia senior national team again, managed by former red-and-white coach Goran Dzockic. David Bruixola returns for this match, and Nacho Plaza is likely to play his first minutes of this winter pre-season, brought about by the European Championship in the Asobal League.

BM Ciudad Encantada: De Hita, Oliva, Moya del Saz (2), Perez Ortiz (10), Mendoza (1), Sorrentino, Sifre (4), Viscovich (3), Renaud (4), Frade, Lopez, Milosevic (2), Dzockic (1).

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Sebastiá, Samuel, Marc Andreu (2), Rubén Ruiz (4), Pocholo (3), Tarrasó, Lluna, Berrios (1), Apelgren (4), Toni Alegre (1), Nebot, Fernández (1), Dukic (2), Roque (1) and Del Rio (1)

 Officials: V. Parra and F. Parra (Castile-La Mancha Federation).

 Mendoza and Renaud were excluded for Ciudad Encantada, and Rubén Ruiz and Tarraso for Fertiberia.

 Scores at five-minute intervals:  5–4, 9–6, 10–7, 11–9, 13–10, 14–11. Half-time. 16–14, 17–16, 20–18, 22–19, 24–19, 27–20. Full-time

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.