Viveros Herol BM Nava, more than just two points at stake

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto host Viveros Herol BM Nava this Saturday, from 18:30, at the Port de Sagunt Pavilion, in a match corresponding to the sixth round of the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League.

The red-and-white team come into the match on a poor run of results, having suffered four consecutive defeats in their last four games. In their most recent fixture, they lost 18–22 in the derby against Horneo EÓN Alicante, played on the Valencian Community Day. They sit 13th in the overall standings with two points.

Just behind them in the table, in 14th place, are the team from Nava, with the same number of points. The Castilla and León side were unable to pick up any points in the first four matches of the competition. However, they did manage to do so last weekend after winning 36–38 away to ABANCA Ademar León at the Palacio de los Deportes.

Carlos Villagrán is their first-team coach, a position he took up at the beginning of February this year, replacing Álvaro Senovilla. Alongside him, as assistant coach, they have a new face compared with last season, as Pablo Gallego has replaced Félix García.

“They are a team with very clear strengths, namely their long-range shooting and transitions, and they will want to punish us with them. If we remain organised on the court and take the game where we want it to go, we will surely make things more difficult for them,” Sergio Mallo said of the opponents they face during the pre-match press conference.

As for arrivals and departures, the exits of Edu Reig, Joao Bandeira, Rui Baptista, Lilian Pasquet and former Puerto player Adrián Nolasco were offset by the arrivals of Paulo Moreno, Clément Esparon, Baptiste Audiffred, Hugo Lima, Maiko Vázquez and Álex Ugalde.

The last three names have been in the spotlight during October so far. Hugo Lima’s contractual relationship with the club was terminated for disciplinary reasons. Meanwhile, Maiko Vázquez and Álex Ugalde have both been included in the latest ASOBAL ideal seven.

We have to go back in time to find the last meeting between the two clubs. It took place in March 2024, on the 21st matchday of the top tier of national handball that season. The visitors secured victory at the Port de Sagunt Pavilion after a strong first half (11–17), with a final score of 25–31.

“There is more than just two points at stake, because if we win, beating a direct rival would give us an extra boost. We really feel their support inside the 40x20. If they have already been cheering us on in the opening games, we ask them to keep doing so for this one,” added Guille Soler regarding the importance of the match and the role of the supporters.

Supporters wishing to buy tickets to watch the match can do so in person or via the club’s website, using the following link: https://p.berrly.com/cbmpsg/events/19666/map . The price will be €15 for purchases made before Saturday. The match will also be broadcast live on the league’s OTT platform, ASOBAL TV: https://www.streamwayplus.com/es/asobal-tv .

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.