Today marks a milestone moment for Handball in Elche as the city gears up for a historic chapter. HE AtticGo presents the first of two opportunities to crown a new champion this afternoon at 18:00 on Teledeporte, at the Pérez Canca-Carranque pavilion in Malaga. For the first time in the club’s 60 plus year history, Guerreras-Iberdrola League glory seems within reach for AtticGo Elche.
The Elche squad edged Costa del Sol Málaga 24-23 in a tightly contested playoff final opener held last Thursday at the Esperanza Lag venue, a setting that buzzed with energy. As the team spoke post game, the pressure rests on Málaga with little room for error. They entered as favorites, and victory in the next two games would secure the championship should a Game Three be needed, with two matches scheduled for this afternoon and next Wednesday at 21:00.
Hailing from Elche, the group faces a moral and hopeful challenge. After defeating favorites San Sebastián in the semi finals by a 1-0 series, AtticGo entered the final round with belief that victory was within reach.
Club management made a strong push and ensured all team members could travel to Malaga, including players who had been sidelined by injury, all traveling after the final training session at Esperanza Lag.
AtticGo Elche heads to Malaga on the road to victory
JA Galvanized
The dream of the green-clad squad will demand focus. The team will need to match the level shown in their three previous matches with Bera Bera and their league opener against Costa del Sol Málaga.
The key to this afternoon’s game will be a sharp, focused start with a solid defense and a potent attack. If AtticGo can hold the line and Málaga does not reach the scoreboard, nerves could rise among the hosts given their earlier declaration of championship status after witnessing AtticGo Elche defeat Bera Bera.
The Dutch guard Tessa Van Zijl, pivotal in the final draw, will aim to deliver the same performance seen in San Sebastián where she tallied ten goals. She will rely on additional contributions from Danila So Delgado, who needs to build on a couple of scoring efforts and avoid disciplinary trouble while maintaining composure on the court.
One major factor in AtticGo Elche’s run toward a first league title will be to pressure Costa del Sol Málaga into their own half. The Málaga attack has to adapt as Silvia Anderius seeks a fluid rhythm to outpace the Elche defense and keep pace with the game tempo.
Meanwhile Nuria Andreu has been a standout in the playoffs, delivering decisive performances with a full mastery of the moment and will be central to the strategy in the closing phases of the match.
Andreu: “We are where we deserve to be and hopefully we can put the icing on the cake of the season”
VLD
The outcome will hinge on the two goalkeepers as well. Nicole Morales has shown exceptional form in the recent clashes with both Bera Bera and Málaga and will need to maintain that high level. Costa del Sol Málaga relies on Merche Castellanos, a seasoned international who has kept her squad competitive and focused, particularly during critical moments at Esperanza Lag.
What unfolds on the court promises a tense, passionate encounter that could seal a historic title for one of the clubs. Over the past three years Elche has won the Queen’s Cup and the Spanish Super Cup, cementing its status as a rising power in Spanish handball and strengthening a club philosophy rooted in nurturing youth talent. A Guerreras-Iberdrola League triumph would be a long-cherished capstone for a program that has consistently invested in its academy and local development.
Costa del Sol Málaga is enjoying its own peak era. Between 2019 and 2022 the club captured the Cup twice, the Super Cup once, and the EHF European Cup, along with multiple runners-up honors in European contests and the Super Cup. Yet the path to a second league title for Málaga remains blocked until AtticGo Elche can clinch the prize this afternoon.
A giant screen has been set up at the Ciutat d’Elx Convention Center to accommodate supporters who could not travel to Malaga. A dedicated bus left early to bring fans to the arena, ensuring a shared moment for the community to witness the decisive match. The venue shift was necessary due to a crowded schedule at the original home facilities and weather considerations that favored indoor viewing.