In the Copa del Rey second round, the draw determined some compelling matchups. TM Benidorm will travel to face Ibiza EON Baked Alicante, while Augustinian Foundation Agustinos will host Guadalajara. The games will take place in the capital city of Alicante, where Frigoríficos Cangas de Morrazo will meet Guadalajara on neutral or designated venues after the draw conducted at the Royal Spanish Handball Federation headquarters on Friday.
The qualifiers are scheduled to be played on a single leg, with the first leg set for March 20. Last season, TM Benidorm earned an away trip to the lower-tier side, and this season the same format will see Eón Hornel Alicante and Agustinos as the local hosts in their encounters. The setup continues to emphasize the knockout nature of the competition, where lower-tier teams have the chance to test themselves against higher-caliber opponents in a high-stakes environment.
Sergio Carballeira stressed the importance of this cup round, noting that the competition offers a meaningful stage for the club to grow. He said that progressing in the cup aligns with the club’s broader goals, and the team would spare no effort to advance through the tie. On the other side, Agustinos Foundation prepares to welcome La Catedral team Guadalajara, which captured second place in the same competition’s Honor Division B after a surprising win over Bada Huesca in the previous round. Their coach, Alejandro Carrillo, described Guadalajara as a very tough opponent, yet one that the tricolor side approaches with great excitement, hoping to deliver another surprise on the road to the next phase.
ÉON Horneo Alicante is drawn to face Frigoríficos Cangas de Morrazo, a club entrenched in the battle to avoid relegation in the Liga ASOBAL. Fernando Latorre acknowledged the significance of clashing with a historic ASOBAL side, recognizing the challenge while also seeing it as an opportunity to push for continued development. He stated that facing a top-flight opponent on their home turf would provide a platform to be competitive, create meaningful challenges, and potentially mount a late push toward the playoffs. Cangas de Morrazo currently sits in 14th place in ASOBAL with seven points, underscoring the stakes of the encounter. Welcoming an ASOBAL team is always a notable occasion for Alicante, as it offers the chance to showcase the club on a bigger stage and to give fans a day of elite handball at close range (RFEBM commentary).