Benidorm and Sinfín Face Off in Santander Showdown
Benidorm’s handball squad traveled to the Santander arena hoping to pull off a positive result, but the night belonged to the hosts who controlled much of the tempo in a tightly contested showdown at La Albericia. From the opening whistle, the visitors tried to impose a wide-open style, yet Sinfín matched every move with discipline and speed, shaping a game that swung back and forth. Fernando Latorre’s squad found success in executing quick counters and pressing defense, while Sinfín’s defense remained stubborn, forcing Benidorm into several advantageous, but ultimately costly, turnovers. By the end of the half, the players had offered a balanced, high-stakes exchange, with Sinfín holding a narrow one-goal edge after a late steal that sparked a scoring sequence before the interval. The halftime scoreboard read a close 18-17, reflecting the parity and the fatigue of a relentless 30 minutes of action. This phase left both teams confident they could flip the script in the final 30 minutes, depending on execution down the stretch.
As the second half began, Sinfín moved ahead by three goals, but Benidorm rallied with a disciplined response that dragged the game back to level terms. The visitors leveraged the suspension of Basualdo to widen the attacking window, crafting several high-percentage chances that brought the score back to parity at 22-22. The momentum then swayed again as Sinfín regained the lead and extended the advantage to five, a stretch powered by consistent finishes from Bono who pressed the pace with a team-high tally. The home defense, however, did not yield easily and Benidorm continued to chase, tightening gaps and contesting every ball. The setting remained tense, with both sides refusing to concede, and the match looked destined to slip away only to reappear with a fresh twist at every end line moment.
On the cusp of the final period, Sinfín managed to pull away slightly, showcasing composure in the late phases and converting crucial possessions into a five-goal gap. Yet Benidorm refused to bow, digging deep and dialing up a late-game push that briefly narrowed the margin to a single goal as the clock wound down. The final sequence saw Sinfín capitalize on a late opportunity, sealing the home win with a 34-32 result and rendering a dramatic finish that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Bono once again led the Sinfín attack with a standout performance, amassing a 16-goal haul that underscored how the hosts controlled the decisive moments. The result reinforced the difficulty of the venue for visiting teams, as Benidorm found the return trip less forgiving than they had hoped.
Looking back, Benidorm’s campaign at home has been mixed, with losses that underscore the challenge of securing two wins on their own floor in rapid succession. The first setback came against Cisne de Pontevedra, followed by another hard-fought defeat in Santander. Nevertheless, the club’s identity remains resilient, with Palau’s squad maintaining a steady footing in the league standings thanks to notable wins over strong opponents such as Bidasoa and Cangas. The team’s strategic approach during this fixture seemed aimed at testing Sinfín’s stamina and exploiting limited windows in the defense, a plan that yielded moments of success even as the final result tilted toward the home side.
In the context of the broader schedule, Latorre’s group used the match to prepare for the upcoming EHF Europa League clash against GC Amicitia Zurich, a test that looms larger on the horizon and offers a clear measure of the team’s growth over the course of the season. The atmosphere at La Albericia reflected a city hungry for results and a club eager to demonstrate progress on multiple fronts, with a packed venue and a sense that each league encounter doubles as a stepping stone toward bigger ambitions. The narrative of this game, full of momentum shifts and late-game drama, will be recalled as a showcase of the league’s competitiveness and the relentless pursuit of improvement by both sides.
DATA SHEET:
SANTANDER AUGER: Mohamed Aly (p) (1), Pla (2), Leo Alonso (6), Bono (9+7p), Herrero Lon (3), Zungri (3) and Aguilella (2) – starting seven; Ernesto (p), Monzón (1), Basualdo, Muñiz, Domínguez, Sergio Rubio, Jacob and Oscar García (1).
TM BENIDORM: Roberto Rodríguez (p), Sotic (4), Calle (5), Grau (2), Barceló, Vainstein and Ramiro Martínez (1+3p) – starting seven; Samuel (p), Lignieres (2), Bernatonis, Sempere (2), Iván Rodríguez (3), Rubén Santos, Nikcevic, Sánchez, Serrano (8) and Soljic (2).
EVERY 5 MINUTES MARK: 3-3, 5-5, 9-6, 11-11, 14-15, 18-17, 21-19, 24-22, 26-23, 30-25, 31-28 and 34-32 (final).
VENUE: La Albericia of Santander in front of 500 spectators.