Atticgo Handball Elche faces an afternoon kickoff in 19 hours with a match that opens the Iberdrola Guerreras League against Caja Rural Aula Valladolid, hosted at the Huerta del Rey Pavilion in Castile. The Franjiverdes approach this clash with a sense of momentum built from a summer of preparation and a string of friendly results that have reinforced the squad’s belief in its direction for the season.
Following six friendly fixtures, the Franciverde side closes a pre-season chapter with a positive record of four victories and two losses. Those results came against notable rivals such as Costa del Sol Málaga, KH-7 BM Granollers, and BM Morvedre, giving the team confidence as they embark on league play. The message from the group is clear: they are keen to translate preseason form into competitive consistency from week one onward.
Joaquín Rocamora’s squad arrives at the campaign with a refreshed roster and a renewed sense of purpose. Despite the challenges that marked the end of the previous season, the Guerreras are aiming to match or surpass their performance from last year, when they finished sixth in the Iberdrola standings. The team’s ambition remains high, and the coaching staff emphasizes a disciplined approach, a faster tempo, and sharper execution to stay competitive in a league known for its intensity and depth.
Valladolid presents a stern test to the Elche outfit. Miguel Ángel Peñas’ Caja Rural Aula Valladolid is recognized for its swift transitions and relentless pace, traits that could complicate Elche’s defensive organization if not met with disciplined positioning and proactive pressure. The clash is anticipated to be a tense chess match where tempo management and defense-driven counterplay will play pivotal roles in shaping the outcome.
Even with the exit of key players such as Danila So Delgado, Cristina Cifuentes, and Lourdes Guerra, Valladolid maintains quality through important contributors like Elba Álvarez, Teresa Álvarez, and Amaya González de Garibay. These players stand out in the opposing attack and will be central to the visitors’ defensive plans. Their presence adds a layer of experience and scoring threat that Elche will need to neutralize to keep the match within reach.
The Elche squad will kick off the season by visiting one of the league’s most challenging arenas, a venue where the balance of power skewed toward Valladolid in last season’s meetings despite two wins by the Elche side (28-23 in the first leg and 25-26 in the second leg). Those results established that the two sides can deliver tight, high-stakes battles, and this season’s opener promises more of the same, especially given the home advantage and the stakes involved.
Danila So Delgado, in particular, will make her league debut with the Franciverdes in this national competition, joining the roster alongside Pipy Wolfs, María Carrillo, Raquel Moré, Zaira Benítez, Udane Bernabé, and Keren Teplitsky. The infusion of new faces aims to inject energy and versatility into the squad, creating more options in both attack and defense as the season unfolds.
Injury concerns will be part of the broader narrative around the match. Ivet Musons, Elena Martínez, Celia Guilabert, Pamela Rodrigues, Tessa Van Zijl, and Clara Gascó are sidelined, reducing available rotations and placing greater emphasis on collective resilience and smart fatigue management. The AtticGo coach stresses that the encounter will be tough and that maintaining tempo and tempo control will be essential to maximizing chances of success. The plan is straightforward: execute a disciplined game plan, press with purpose when appropriate, and seek opportunities to destabilize the Valladolid defense through quick ball movement and decisive shooting.
As the season begins, fans can expect a contest defined by intensity, tactical discipline, and a clear hunger from Elche to climb the standings early. The matchup is more than a single game; it signals the start of a campaign where the team will chase steady improvement, adapt to opponents’ schemes, and build momentum that could carry them through the demanding schedule ahead. The atmosphere at Huerta del Rey is likely to be charged, with every possession carrying significance and the possibility of a breakthrough moment that could set the tone for the months to come. [Cite: league preview notes and team statements]