Bidasoa Irun has entered the European qualification places in the Asobal League after a major victory in Valladolid. This result, combined with Granollers' defeat in Aranda, has placed the Irun team in third position, granting them the opportunity to participate in European competitions next season.
The battle for the top spots in the league has been intense, and Bidasoa Irun has successfully regained ground. Although four crucial matchdays remain to maintain this position, the team's ambition extends beyond mere European qualification; they aim to be, for the fourth consecutive year since their return to the elite, the best national team after Barcelona, whose dominance, though still significant, is gradually diminishing.
Currently, Bidasoa holds third place thanks to their triumph in Valladolid, capitalizing on Granollers' stumble against Villa de Aranda. The team from Vallès suffered a setback in the final minutes of the first half, going from a 9-10 lead to a 16-11 deficit. Despite their efforts to close the gap, getting within a single goal (19-18), they failed to equalize, and Tubos Aranda sealed the match with a decisive 33-27.
“"The distance in the game was not such that we should see differences of 4-5 goals. I think it was more a physical difference, of being able to make rotations."
Granollers' defeat in Aranda is excellent news for Bidasoa, but also a warning. Villa de Aranda will be the bidasotarras' next opponent this Saturday at Artaleku, in a match scheduled for 4:30 PM. Fortunately for the Irun team, Aranda's victory has eased the Castilian team's classification tensions, who now view the table with a different optimism.
Regarding the victory in Valladolid, the team's coach noted that the first half was very even, and they felt uncomfortable due to the opponent's pivot combination. After halftime, however, the team adjusted its defense and capitalized on Valladolid's errors to build a 2-3 goal lead, which they managed to extend. The coach emphasized the importance of rotations in maintaining the pace throughout the match.
“"We are not used to playing three games in 7 days. Bidasoa is, and they are also a great team. We gave it our all but it didn't work out."
A Valladolid player concurred with this analysis, highlighting the absences that affected his team and the difficulty of playing three matches in seven days, something Bidasoa, accustomed to European competitions, is used to. The Bidasoa coach concluded that the victory was well-deserved and congratulated the players and fans, but warned that four "finals" still lie ahead and that the most challenging part is yet to come.
