TM Handball Benidorm faced a strong start and then dominated the track last night in the EHF Europa League group stage after winning the first qualifying round by ten goals, 34-24, over Amicticia Zurich of Switzerland at Palau d’Esport L’Illa. The result set a clear tone for the tie and gave Benidorm a comfortable cushion heading into the return leg.
Fernando Latorre’s squad appeared far superior to their Swiss opponents, who produced a brief spark only in the opening ten minutes before Benidorm tightened up and asserted control. The Benidorm players carried momentum into the game, capitalizing on early jitters from the visitors and seizing the initiative with a disciplined defensive plan and quick transitions.
Yet the Swiss team showed that a deficit can be narrowed in sports, as they had done in the previous round against Poland’s Zabrze. They fought back aggressively, trading blows with their Spanish hosts and keeping the scoreboard lively as each side sought to gain a decisive edge. The pace of play never dropped, with both teams exchanging rapid goals and pressing hard on both ends of the court.
Benidorm relied on a collective attack in the absence of a standout outside shooter, employing a choreographed, dynamic approach that repeatedly sucked Zurich’s defense into deep rotations. Calle and Lignieres emerged as pivotal pillars, leading the charge with penetrating runs and sharp movements that gradually wore down the Swiss defense and created valuable openings for teammates to finish. The strategy paid dividends as the home team built early advantages that would prove decisive through the opening half.
The Swiss coach called for a timeout with around ten minutes left as his team found it difficult to block the relentless local assault, spearheaded by Argentine Ramiro Martínez who racked up six goals in the first period. Zurich found itself needing a spark, and the save distribution from the goalkeeper became crucial for Benidorm to extend their lead and maintain control of the match.
Zurich attempted to stay within reach, but a turnover-focused defense from Benidorm and strong goalkeeping afterwards created a cushion that allowed the Alicante side to push ahead by several goals. The defensive line, anchored by Grau and Vainstein, remained resolute, stifling much of the Swiss attack and allowing a five-goal gap to be protected. As the first period ended, the score stood at 18-13, leaving Benidorm with a comfortable margin that gave the home crowd a sense of inevitability at Palau d’Esports L’Illa. About 700 spectators created a vibrant, supportive atmosphere that underscored the night’s energy.
With a halftime message delivered, the second half opened with seven against six scenarios that Benidorm managed to navigate as Latorre reorganized his approach. He pulled his forwards back from risky six-on-seven situations, choosing instead to press for a more controlled attack while maintaining pressure on the Swiss goal. Samuel, the goalkeeper for Amicticia Zurich, made ten saves in total, but the tactical tempo from Benidorm’s offense kept him busy and limited his impact at key moments.
Zurich tried to flip the script with a timeout and a renewed push on the offensive end, managing to cut the lead briefly to seven, but Benidorm quickly steadied the ship. Latorre signaled another timeout to reset his players and bring in Iker Serrano and Iván Martínez as primary offensive options. From there, Benidorm maintained a comfortable lead, closing the game with a 34-24 result that sets up a cautious but confident outlook for the return leg in Zurich scheduled for next week.
DATA SHEET:
TM BENIDORM: Roberto Rodriguez; Vainstein (1), Iker Serrano (7), Lignieres (4), Ramiro Martínez (6, 4p), Edu Calle (4) and Nikcevic (2) – starting with seven Barceló (3), Grau, Sempere (1), Iván Rodríguez (3), Rubén Santos, Soljic, Sotic (2) and Ibáñez (1).
AMICTICIA ZURICH: rod (2); Blatter (5), Popovski (2), Sluitjers (2), Gudmundsson (5, 4p), Bamert (2) and Laube (1) – starting seven Harbuz (1), Bachmann, Zeltner, Bader, Quni (2), Platz (1), Hayer and Maros (1).
EVERY 5 MINUTES MARK: 2-2, 5-4, 9-7, 11-9, 13-11, 18-13 – between – 21-16, 22-16, 25-18, 29-21, 31-22 and 34-24 (final).
REFEREES: Ivan Caçador and Eurico Nicolau (Portugal). Laube (2) for Amicticia Zurich and Grau (2) for Gudmundsson and TM Benidorm were excluded.
MANSION: Palau d’Esports L’Illa de Benidorm is in front of approximately 700 spectators. Attribution: This recap mirrors match notes and team reports from the event coverage and the official box score at the time of the game.