We return from Málaga at the top of the table

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto beat Trops Málaga 23-27 away at the Diego Carrasco Municipal Pavilion in the postponed match from the ninth round of the Men's División de Honor Plata, becoming the competition's new leaders with 20 points, the same as Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin, but with a better goal difference.

Juani Villarreal returned in goal for the red and white starting seven, facing his former team-mates. Two saves from the Argentine and four goals from fast breaks, two each by Nicolás Zungri and Antonio Capitán, quickly put the visitors ahead. Pol Amores responded to the saved seven-metre throw at the other end in the same manner and the same minute. The first home goal did not arrive until the tenth minute. Matheus de Novais received the match's first two-minute suspension; despite being short-handed, the visitors won the period 1-2.

The outstanding long-range shooting of the Valencian first line was joined by that of their two wings, Jakob Pelko and Carlos Martín, extending the lead to +4 (4-9) in the 16th minute, when Curro Lucena called the first time-out. Toni Malla responded three minutes later as he watched his opponents reduce the deficit to two goals. Despite failing to take advantage of their first numerical superiority, in a 1-1 period, they reached half-time with a comfortable 10-14 lead.

The exchange of goals after emerging from the changing rooms allowed the Málaga side to reduce the deficit slightly to two goals, largely thanks to the effectiveness of their right wing, Manu Díaz. At the other end, Nicolás Zungri remained just as offensively influential as in the first half. Alberto Serradilla was also flawless from the penalty line, with a 100% success rate. Dani Martínez joined them in goal and, despite entering the match for the first time, saved a crucial seven-metre throw. As in the first half, Toni Malla called a time-out when the Andalusians again moved within two goals.

The home side had possession to reduce the gap to one goal, but wasted it and the score returned to the +2, +3 and +4 margins seen at half-time, prompting another time-out from Curro Lucena with less than ten minutes remaining. Carlos Martín's two-minute suspension in the 52nd minute brought Francisco Ruiz on in a 4-2 formation, and he was vital with three goals in two minutes. David Agudo's subsequent suspension with less than four minutes remaining left his team with virtually no chance of a comeback. The comfortable lead allowed the two Primera Nacional reserve-team players in the squad, Rodrigo Alba and Adrián Blasco, to take the court. The final score was 23-27.

This coming weekend they will return to the Port de Sagunt Pavilion to host Balonmano Servigroup Benidorm in a new Valencian Community derby that will bring the fourteenth round to a close. It will be played on a different day and at a different time than usual due to the midweek fixture: Sunday 14 from 18:00.

MATCH DETAILS:

Trops Málaga (23): Jesús Arca (1), Caue Martins (5), Jorge Villamarín (-), Pol Amores (-), Gerdón Rosillo (-), Adrián Portela (-), Javier Camas (-), Javi García (3), Manu Díaz (4), Víctor Barderas (-), Isaac García (3), Alberto Castro (2), Pablo Quintero (1), Roberto Muñoz (1), Álvaro Sánchez (-), David Agudo (3).

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto (27): Juani Villarreal (-), Francisco Ruiz (3), Rodrigo Alba (-), Jakob Pelko (1), Dani Martínez (-), Pozzer (3), Arnau Fernández (3), Gonzalo (-), David García (-), Matheus de Novais (1), Serradilla (5), Capitán (4), Zungri (4), Adrián Blasco (-), Carlos Martín (3), Teixidor (-).

Officials: Jorge López González and José Luis Hernández Lara.

Suspensions: Manu Díaz, David Agudo, Matheus de Novais, Antonio Capitán and Carlos Martín received two-minute suspensions, while Pablo Gonzalez received a yellow card.

Periods: 0-3, 0-4, 4-8, 7-11, 9-13, 10-14 (half-time); 14-16, 15-19, 17-19, 18-21, 21-24 and 23-27 (full-time).

Match information: Match from the postponed 9th round of the Men's División de Honor Plata, played at the Diego Carrasco Municipal Pavilion.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.