Victory waits for no one. Atticgo CBM Elche Iberdrola fell to Costa del Sol Málaga in the second game of the Guerreras League final, balancing the series ahead of a decisive match in a few days. The final honors the dedication of two teams chasing their first league crown, a prize that surely deserves to be claimed. Yet only one can emerge as champion. That is the nature of handball and sport alike.
Atticgo Elche manager Rocamora: “It will be very difficult but there is pressure on Málaga”
VL Deltel
The group led by Joaquin Rocamora sought the continuity they showed in the earlier semi-final game, needed again in the title-deciding duel if Elche hoped to make history. This time the matchup favored Malaga, who seized the chance to tie the series 1-1 with solid play that kept them competitive throughout the night.
The opening period saw Morale and Castile pushing to claim both the league title and the best goalkeeper prize. Malaga, protected by a sturdy goal defense, converted an early possession into a first lead and were soon matched by Elche. Van Zijl converted a counterattack, and a long-range effort from Do Nascimento brought the score to parity at seven meters out.
11 minute blackout
Atticgo Elche remembered their strong start and built a two-goal cushion (5-7 at 13 minutes) thanks to a well-placed Vaseline finish by Guilabert. But then Elche endured a stretch of cold shooting lasting over eleven minutes, during which the score swung from 6-8 to 11-8 as the Andalusian squad, led by Arderius, sought a decisive break that was thwarted by two goals from Van Zijl, adding an element of luck to the moment.
In the first half, Costa del Sol Málaga briefly took the lead (12-10 at 30 minutes) with a tactical electronic advantage. Everything would hinge on the second half as Rocamora explored deeper options from the bench and his team settled into a calmer rhythm. The opening game result showed that the series was far from decided.
AtticGo Elche’s big dreams pressed on as the second half began with a quick exchange. A steal and a save sparked a rapid counter that Morales capitalized on for the equality at the scoreboard, signaling more contested moments to come.
no return
The Málaga side intensified their effort, opening a small window with three-pointers in the final stretch (20-17 at 42 minutes). Rodrigues faced a tough defense as Rocamora tried to adjust the goal setup, but the Spanish coach’s plans did not yield the desired breakthrough.
A renewed scoring volley from both sides kept the tension high and gave Gascó and Oppedal chances to respond, supported by crucial saves from Castellanos. The home team demonstrated resilience but could not dislodge the solid Málaga defense, and a few interceptions only added to the Morale struggle. The clock bled away and Elche failed to breach the defense enough to force extra time.
The night finished with another tight win for the hosts, mirroring the outcome of the opening clash. Málaga tied the Guerreras League final at one win apiece, with the third game scheduled for the same venue on Wednesday at 20:30, promising a dramatic finish to the title race.
match report
COASTAL SOL MALAGA: Castellanos (p), Fernández (ps); Doiro (3), Arderius (10), Bravo (5), Cuadrado, Campigli (3), Pérez (3), Gutiérrez, López (3), Sánchez (1), Azcune, Medeiros and Rojas.
ATTICGO CBM ELCHE: Morales (p), Rodrigues (ps); Zhukova, Van Zijl (8), Oppedal (1), Guilabert (2), Méndez (2), Andreu (1), So Delgado (5), Gascó (5), Flores, Benítez, Wolfs, Bernabé (1), Make Nascimento (1) and More.
SCORE BY PERIOD: 3-2, 4-4, 6-8, 8-8, 11-8, 12-10 at halftime; 15-13, 16-16, 21-19, 23-21, 26-23, 28-26.
REFEREES: Raúl Oyarzun and Aritz Zaragueta. Flores, López (2), So Delgado, Guilabert and Rojas were excluded.
PAVILION: Sports City of Carranque (Málaga).