Joaquín Rocamora’s Atticgo Club Handball Elche opens this Saturday (21.00) in the Guerreras-Iberdrola League. The match unfolds before a home crowd at the Esperanza Lag pavilion, pitting Elche against the league’s renowned rival, Costa del Sol Malaga. Malaga currently holds the league crown, and both teams battle for top spot as Elche eyes a strong start after securing a recent win over Malaga in the prior meeting.
The Atticgo-Costa del Sol showdown has been staged no more than three times this preseason. Elche’s women posted two victories and one loss. The first win came during the Villa de Frigiliana Cup in Malaga with a 21-26 result. Rocamora’s squad then earned a 22-19 victory in the next clash on Andalusian soil. The largest margin of victory, however, arrived at the Festa d’Elx with a 29-20 win.
Announcement
Elche anticipates a vibrant atmosphere as Teledeporte and Tele Elx broadcast the match. For CBM Elche, the coach plans to deploy the full squad, and Atticgo has reinforced the lineup with Marisol Carratú and Kelly Rosa this season, alongside Noelia Solla, though the latter will begin the season with the reserve team. In contrast, Elena Martínez (Oviedo), Ángela Rodríguez (Icasa Handball Madrid), Pamela Rodrígues (Granollers), and Ivette Musons (retired and currently serving as second coach for the Senior B Women’s team under Nuria Andreu) are noted for their recent movements. In Malaga, Gabriela Pessoa and Gabriela Bitolo (a former CBM Elche player) were sidelined for the match.
“We began as champions against a second-placed team and hope to present a solid image”, Rocamora stated. The season is just starting, and with some players still on the beach, he urged fans to converge on Esperanza Lag and create an environment with 800–1,000 supporters enjoying top-tier handball. The upcoming opponent, Costa del Sol, is viewed by Rocamora as possessing the strongest squad of the last decade, rivaling the era of the old Itxako team.
AtticGo Elche coach Joaquín Rocamora is ambitious before the season
Joaquín Rocamora
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Rocamora emphasizes the importance of having AtticGo Elche capable of competing with every opponent as the clock approaches the 60th minute, even when his side faces significant injury issues for the upcoming match. The aim is to sustain the level shown during the preseason and translate it into results. If this can be achieved, a victory becomes a real possibility. Yet, the coach stresses that wins are secondary to broader aims: maintaining fan engagement, showcasing the team’s identity, and continuing the momentum built this August. This approach seeks to keep the club’s rising profile intact and provide a memorable experience for spectators and supporters alike.