The wait is over for Costa del Sol Málaga, which has one of the highlights of the season before its eyes. Ahead is the real possibility of obtaining a historic ticket to the group stage of the EHF European League. In the last decade, only Super Amara Bera Bera played it once, which reflects the difficulty and size of the milestone. København Håndbold is the last obstacle for the panthers, who face their second tie after leaving Larvik HK on the road. The first leg will be this Saturday in Carranque, at 6:00 p.m., where a great atmosphere is expected.
Very important challenge
«It is a very important challenge, we have been waiting for this tie for a long time. It is something historic, not only for the club, but for Spanish handball. A lot of desire and enthusiasm with what is generated in this type of matches“, admits Suso Gallardo, ambitious by nature, in the preview: “We don’t have to set a limit or ceiling, the pressure in this case must be on them. The return is in their field, whatever happens will be decided in Denmark. We have to start with that premise, enjoy and compete. If this team has shown anything, it is that it knows how to compete better than anyone else and if they want to eliminate us they are going to have to suffer a lot.
The Danish team makes its debut in Europe this year, it was exempt from the previous crossing. A powerful club that also competes in a high-level league with several Champions League teams. Rasmus Overby’s team is seventh with a record of five wins and six losses. «It is a very complicated tie, it is true that it is a team that has very strange results in its league. He is capable of competing against the first placed, beating the second and losing with the last. That also says about the level of that competition. He has many internationals, a lot of experience, he runs a lot and it is going to be very complicated, especially because the return leg is there,” says the Malaga coach. In their ranks there are players of the stature of Stine Jorgensen, Martina Thorn, Helene Hansen and Catharina Molenaar, among others.
The “panthers” are not afraid
The panthers are not discouraged, with the motivation thermometer high with such a challenge. “We have to have the hope of working well, why not continue dreaming that we have had 20 qualifying rounds and have not lost any in these three years,” concludes Suso Gallardo, who wants Málaga to also enjoy this special moment for its handball. : «It is the best handball that can be seen in Spain and I hope Carranque responds as he always does and the fans carry us along». The opportunity of the Costa del Sol Málaga, which once again appears in history. Europe is back.