Atticgo Handball Elche already knows the days and times for the last 16 matches of the EHF European Cup, set to face Portuguese Madeira Andebol SAD next January.
AtticGo Elche’s challenging Portuguese foe in the last 16 of the EHF European Cup
The Rocamora-led squad faces a demanding European opponent after advancing through the first two qualifying rounds, overcoming Bulgaria’s Byala and Greece’s OFN Ionas.
Atticgo Elche’s tougher challenge against Greek OFN Ionas
The team’s progress came with renewed effort after a difficult clash in Greece, highlighting the squad’s resilience and depth as they moved forward in continental competition.
Departure
For now, the Franjiverdes had arranged for both legs to be played at specific venues, but the latest round will require two matches on separate weekends rather than a single host site.
Specifically, the away leg is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, with kickoff at six o’clock in the evening local time, taking place in Funchal on the island of Madeira, at the venue commonly used by the Portuguese side.
The return leg will occur a week later in Elche on Saturday, January 20, with a 7 p.m. start at the Esperanza Lag pavilion.
Rocamora believes
Rocamora, the head coach of AtticGo Elche, acknowledges a tough draw with Madeira Andebol SAD. He notes the opponent’s quality and international experience, pointing to recent performances in the Iberian Super Cup where Madeira reached a minimal scoring margin against Costa del Sol Málaga. He emphasizes that the team possesses strong individuals and a roster with international players, signaling a challenging but doable test for Elche in Europe.
There are options
The Green-Franjiver warriors’ coach remains hopeful, expressing confidence in the squad’s ability to overcome the draw. He calls on Elche supporters to rally behind the Guerreras Franjiverdes as they embark on European action, underscoring the impact dependable home and away support can have in tightly contested matches.