Atticgo Balonmano Elche opened a high-stakes playoff final against Costa del Sol Málaga in the Esperanza Lag pavilion, a night that felt like a grand handball celebration. The arena brimmed with energy as more than 2,000 devoted fans filled every corner. Aromas, music, lights, and a specially crafted stand animation amplified the festive mood, turning the match into a true handball party for the Ilicitanos.
chronic
The game began with a fierce tempo as both defenses clamped down, producing a 2-2 stalemate in the first five minutes and a 3-3 balance after ten. Early nerves and minor errors left both teams searching for rhythm, with Elche wasting two promising possessions. In the 12th minute, Atticgo Elche pounced on a rebound to level the score at 4-4. The Elche keeper registered four saves from thirteen attempts in that spell.
Nuria Andreu, the standout from the semi-final, entered in the 14th minute and opened her scoring account, making it 5-4. A minute later, Celia Guilabert forced a seven-meter throw with a straight stop, and Elche surged ahead thanks to Patricia Méndez converting a penalty, tutoring the score to 6-4 early in the new period.
nuria andreu
The referees whistled a passive against Málaga, but their goalkeeper denied Elche’s fast break, and Medeiros converted Málaga’s fifth attempt. Andreu struck again in another fast attack, adding her second goal. The visitors equalized with seven meters after Do Nascimento’s work on the edge. Málaga then drew level at eight after Danila was sent off and Almudena converted the next seven meters, leaving the scoreboard at a tight 7-8 as the first half progressed to the 20th minute with a renewed battle to seize control.
Moments of intense concentration followed as Méndez hit the post with a penalty, and Elche pressed on the board, though the pace remained hot. Despite several near-misses and a handful of defensive standouts, the scoreline stayed close. Clara Gascó then nudged Elche ahead with a 9-8 advantage after a run of solid play, as both sides traded blows and the crowd marveled at the discipline on display.
By the 27th minute the tension spiked: So Delgado received a second exclusion and Málaga converted, leaving Elche facing a difficult defensive stretch. Nuria Andreu earned another seven meters with a successful finish, but Málaga’s counterpunch kept the score tight. At the break, the teams reached a draw at ten, with both goalkeepers delivering crucial saves and attackers struggling to convert under pressure.
second part
Coming out after the break, Málaga started with a goal from their hosts, and then the game found its pace again with both sides tied. Elche nudged ahead briefly after a good save by Morales and Andreu scored again, but a defensive lapse allowed Málaga back into the contest. A defensive foul produced a seven-meter for Elche, yet the shot went astray, maintaining the siege mentality as fatigue crept in for both teams. The second half opened with high-intensity action and a dramatic shift in momentum as Arderius and then Méndez produced decisive finishes to push the score to 14-14 around the 34th minute.
The pace intensified to near chaos at times. Elche showed resilience with strong defensive holds, and Costa del Sol responded with dangerous counterattacks. Morales continued to deny opportunities with a string of standout stops, while Elche’s shooters found rough wind at the edge of the arc. A pivotal moment arrived when Silvia Arderius converted a new seven meters, lifting the home side and keeping Malaga within reach as the clock ran down.
The action swung back and forth with edge-of-seat tension. Patricia Méndez added another important score to make it 15-14, and Morales again came up with a crucial save to keep the advantage for the locals. The drama built as Danila So Delgado faced a series of calls and Málaga burned time to steady themselves while Elche kept the pressure high, each attack carrying a potential game-changing result.
The match reached another fever pitch as the teams swapped goals and the stands roared. Wolf opened a late lead for Elche at 16-14, only to see Morales deny more attempts and keep Málaga within reach. A furious stretch followed with exclusions, decisive saves, and tight defending, making every possession count. Málaga’s response arrived with the best of a late surge, but Elche held firm into the final minutes as the score hovered around 19-18 and then 20-19, with moments of pure grit from both sides.
In the final stretch, Málaga pressed forward with renewed energy, but Atticgo Elche refused to yield. Do Nascimento unleashed a spectacular vaseline shot that broke through the Málaga goalkeeper, followed by another striking finish to push the margin to 23-20 with three minutes left. Rocamora tightened the defense, blocking Málaga on multiple attempts as time wound down. A late goal from Rojas plus a final Andreu strike closed the door; the last score settled the debate at 24-23 in favor of Atticgo Elche.
AtticGo Elche, Elda Prestigio and Agustinos do it all
JA Galvanized
First point of the final
Atticgo Handball Elche claimed the opening point of the final, earning a small cushion as they prepare to travel to Málaga for the next showdown this Sunday. A win gives them the title outright; a loss would force a third game in the Andalusian city. Morales delivered a standout 12-stop performance and claimed MVP honors for the match. On the offensive side, Do Nascimiento delivered the game’s decisive moments, helping Elche march toward what many players and fans regard as a historic triumph. The atmosphere was electric—proof that Atticgo Elche has every reason to believe they can crown a champion this season.