La Rioja secured a 36:36 victory over Cuenca in the ASOBAL League on Thursday evening, extending their unbeaten start to five matches. The visitors moved into sixth place with six points from four games, while the hosts remain ninth with two points after three outings. It was a result that reflected La Rioja's consistency this season, even if the margin was tighter than their recent record suggests.
La Rioja have now won three of their four league fixtures, with only a 30:34 defeat to German side Gummersbach spoiling their progress. That loss came in their most recent outing before this match, and they responded with back-to-back victories over Puerto Sagunto and Eurofarm Pelister. By then, the pattern was clear — they were building momentum through disciplined performances.
Cuenca's situation is less straightforward. They hold two points from three games, including a narrow 26:23 win over Puente-Jenil and a 27:27 draw with Puerto Sagunto. Their 36:37 loss to Proin Sevilla on 26 September and 26:28 defeat to Valladolid suggest they are still finding their rhythm. And here's the thing — two draws in five recent matches indicates they can compete but lack the cutting edge to close out results.
Our prediction called for an away win with 57 percent confidence, and it materialised. La Rioja's defensive structure, built on those earlier victories, held firm despite Cuenca's home advantage. To be fair, the scoreline did not tell the full story of a contest that remained competitive until the final exchanges.
The result leaves La Rioja six points clear of Cuenca in the table, though the hosts have played one fewer match. For Cuenca, it is another opportunity to regroup before their next fixture. These things take time, and the early season is still young enough for patterns to shift.
