The decisive moment for TM Benidorm arrived a day after the Europa League group stage wrapped up. A 23-27 defeat to Ferencvaros left qualification hanging by a thread, marking a pivotal point in Benidorm’s bid to keep their European campaign alive and competitive. The result etched a clear boundary between hope and reality, urging a renewed focus on the remaining fixtures and a disciplined effort to maximize every possible outcome.
The Benidorm squad paid a heavy price for a slow start that handed control to the visitors from the opening whistle. The home attack sputtered while the defense endured sustained pressure, and the early deficit quickly grew. With qualification slipping away, the team faced a final day clash against France, where a miracle would be needed to alter the arc of their season. Yet within the challenge lay a chance to demonstrate character, resilience, and the capability to finish strong when the stakes were highest.
From the outset, Benidorm aimed to secure a win that would sustain continental aspirations. The early minutes, however, offered little in the way of breakthroughs. Ferencvaros surged to an early advantage, stretching the gap as Benidorm searched for balance and cohesion in both transition defense and quick-ball movement. The visitors showed patience and precision, measuring each attack and pressuring the home side into mistakes that fed the growing lead.
A sequence of turnovers and crucial saves swung the momentum decisively. Ferencvaros rode a confident surge led by Nagy, building a comfortable cushion while Benidorm worked furiously to steady the ship. The Hungarian side balanced caution with aggression, using fast breaks to keep Benidorm off balance and forcing the defense to stretch in moments of urgency.
During a tense stretch, Benidorm trailed by as many as four to five goals for seven minutes, a deficit that jolted the bench into action. The coach called for tighter defensive discipline and sharper finishing at the attacking end, but a breakthrough did not materialize immediately. The delay in scoring reinforced the challenge of turning the tide against a well-organized opponent with a clear system and strong execution on the counterattack.
Ferencvaros maintained a steady rhythm, alternating between comfortable leads of four goals and stretches that reached six. They relied on a disciplined defense paired with rapid transitions that turned defense into quick offense. Their best players found opportunities to strike when Benidorm blinked, underscoring the visitors’ ability to control the tempo and force errors when the home side attempted to climb back into contention.
Barceló produced moments of courage and Bernatonis contributed outside shooting to keep Benidorm within range on offense. Roberto’s goalkeeping remained critical, denying larger gaps and giving the team a chance to work through the difficult minutes. A late stretch lifted the home crowd slightly as the scoreboard showed 9-14, a signal that Benidorm still had life, even if the path forward was narrow and fraught with pressure.
Approaching the midpoint, a brief 3-0 burst hinted at a possible revival for Benidorm, but Ferencvaros answered with composed, clinical play. When Lekai found his rhythm, the Hungarian side looked ready to reclaim control and push clear once more, reflecting the depth and breadth of their quality across the roster. The rhythm of the game remained a test for the hosts, who needed more than just flashes of brilliance to close the gap.
Defensively, Benidorm tightened as the game progressed. Roberto resurfaced with crucial saves to keep the margin from widening further, and the defense began to settle into a more organized shape. Yet Ferencvaros stayed prolific in attack, and the hosts could not capitalize on enough chances to erase the deficit. The margin hovered, and every defensive stop carried weight in a match where a small error could prove costly.
With the gap narrowing gradually, Benidorm gained momentum through Ramiro Martínez’s scoring, Barceló’s grit in defense, and additional saves from Roberto. Five minutes remained on the clock, and a late Ferencvaros goal forced Benidorm to adopt a higher-risk approach in search of a late, game-changing surge. The home side pressed with urgency, trading chances in a race against the clock as the crowd leaned into every moment of opportunity.
The final minutes intensified as Benidorm sought a rally. A miscue at a decisive moment allowed Ferencvaros to execute a swift counter and add two more goals, effectively sealing the result. The visitors controlled most of the night, leaving Benidorm with the bitter taste of elimination from further European competition and a need to reflect, regroup, and plan for the next challenge with renewed focus.
On the court, Sánchez attempted to spark a late surge for Benidorm, but the final whistle confirmed the uphill climb to extend their European journey. The match, part of the Europa League group stage, drew a modest crowd to the Palau d’Esports L’Illa in Benidorm, where supporters watched with a mix of frustration and hope for a brighter future in continental play.
DATA SHEET:
TM BENIDORM 9 plus 14: Roberto Rodriguez; Vainstein, Ramiro Martínez four, Barceló four, Sempere three, Vujovic one and Soljic – starter seven – Iker Serrano one, Lignieres two, Edu Calle two, Rubén Santos, Adrián Sánchez one, Grau, Nikcevic three, Bernatonis two and Samu Ibáñez on the bench.
FERENCVAROS TC 14 plus 13: Borbel; Onodi Janokuti two, Bujdoso, Bognar two, Debreczeni three, Nagy eight with two, Kovacsics one – starter seven – Pordan, Fuzi four, Torok, Imre three, Lekai one, Balogh, Prainer three, Juhas.
A MARKER EVERY 5 MINUTES: 1-2, 1-5, 4-8, 5-10, 6-12, 9-14 (rest); 13-16, 13-19, 16-21, 18-22, 21-23 and 23-27.
REFEREES: Christian Hannes and David Hannes from Germany. They disqualified Vujovic, Grau, Soljic and Barceló for TM Benidorm and Debreczeni and Bognar for Ferencvaros.
EVENTS: The match, the ninth day of the Europa League group phase, took place before approximately 600 spectators at Palau d’Esports L’Illa in Benidorm.