As the twentieth round of the Liga Asobal came to a close, FC Barcelona secured another win, though they were pushed to their limits by Cangas Frigoríficos del Morrazo. With just ten minutes left on the clock, the score was neck and neck at 27-27. Nacho Moyano’s team managed to keep up with Barcelona’s frenetic pace, which was somewhat hindered by the absence of Danish goalkeeper Emil Nielsen. A crucial timeout called by Ortega, who opted for a starting lineup featuring Dika Mem, Makuc, and Carlsbogard, along with Portuguese pivot Luis Frade, ultimately led to a 30-36 victory for the Catalan side.
Meanwhile, Fraikin Granollers capitalized on the draw between Bidasoa and Ademar to leapfrog into third place, recovering from a lackluster first half against Logroño La Rioja. The Granollers team improved their attack in the second half, while Logroño struggled to find their rhythm, allowing the difference to narrow to 17-18 by the 44th minute. A stunning goal from Pablo Urdangarín, playing on the wing, sealed the deal with a 28-27 final score.
Bathco Torrelavega ended their two-week winless streak with a 34-29 victory over bottom-dwellers Bada Huesca. Although the visitors put up a good fight, the home team dominated the game without much trouble. After establishing an 8-4 lead midway through the first half, Torrelavega maintained their advantage throughout the match.
Lower Table Battles
In the lower echelons of the table, Helvetia Anaitasuna created some Distance between themselves and the relegation zone with their second consecutive win, this time against REBI Cuenca (33-26). The Navarre-based team, driven by their need for a win, imposed a fast pace that Cuenca struggled to keep up with. The score was tied at 29-29 at one point, but Anaitasuna’s determination ultimately paid off.
The Saturday matchup between Abanca Ademar León and Bidasoa Irún ended in a 29-29 draw, with Iñaki Cavero converting a penalty for the Basque team just as the clock expired. Bidasoa had the upper hand in the final minute, but a brilliant ball recovery by Egyptian player Hatem Marwan allowed Ademar to dream of their fourth win of the second half. However, a last-ditch effort from Darío Sanz was penalized, and Cavero sealed the draw.
Other Matches
BM Guadalajara deepened Puente Genil’s crisis with a 26-25 win, having led the game from start to finish. However, the Alcarreños almost let it slip away in the final minute, with Poveda missing a crucial shot and Puente Genil failing to capitalize on the ensuing possession. A questionable substitution led to Claudio Ramos’s exclusion, and although Guadalajara lost the ball again, Puente Genil was unable to score.
Hoteles Servigroup Benidorm continued their downward spiral with a 28-30 loss to Recoletas Atlético Valladolid, their fifth consecutive defeat in the league. Despite a strong start, Benidorm suffered an offensive paralysis in the second half, only managing to recover in the final five minutes. The recent dismissal of their previous coach, Sergio Carballeira, has yet to yield the desired results.
In the Viveros Herol Nava – Villa de Aranda match, an outstanding performance from Pau Guitart, who made fifteen saves, propelled Villa de Aranda to a 27-28 win. The home team’s injuries to three key players and a red card for Bonanno midway through the second half proved too much to overcome.
