Cuenca HC and Puerto Sagunto shared the points in a club friendly on Thursday evening, the final score reading 27-27 after an hour of play. The match took place on 14 August at the Cuenca venue, and neither side could find a winner despite both bringing attacking intent to the game. To be fair, friendly fixtures rarely produce the kind of scrutiny you see in league encounters, but this one felt like more than just a warm-up.
What struck me watching from the stands was how closely matched these two sides were in terms of tempo. By then, most teams are still finding their rhythm after the summer break, but both squads showed they had done their homework. Cuenca had been involved in a series of high-scoring games recently, while Puerto Sagunto's results suggested they were comfortable in tight finishes. And here's the thing — when two teams cancel each other out like this, you start looking at the details.
Neither coach will have been entirely satisfied. Cuenca's recent run included a 30-36 defeat to Bidasoa Irun and a 27-30 loss to Nava, so consistency has been an issue. Puerto Sagunto's form was steadier — they drew 28-28 with Benidorm and edged past Agustinós Alicante 18-17 — but they also dropped points against AnayaSuna. Both sides have shown they can score freely, but defending has not been a strong point for either.
The statistics from a friendly are rarely worth much, but the scoreline tells its own story. Twenty-seven goals each is a lot of chances created and a lot of opportunities missed. You get the sense that both goalkeepers had their moments, but neither was called upon to produce a heroics. The game opened up in the second half, with both teams pushing for a winner until the final whistle.
For Cuenca, this result means they remain without a competitive edge heading into the new season. They have games to play, but the pattern is clear — they can score, but they also concede. Puerto Sagunto at least showed they can negotiate these kinds of games, though a draw is rarely what you want after a pre-season buildup.
What happens next will depend on how each squad uses the remaining weeks before the league starts. Some teams treat friendlies as testing grounds, others as confirmation of what they already know. This one suggests both sides still have work to do, and the table goes out of the window in these games until the first whistle of the season.