The battle for the top spot in the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL centers on the 'Match of the Week' at O Gatañal

The fight for the top spot in the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL next weekend centers on the 'Match of the Round' between Frigoríficos del Morrazo and Recoletas Salud At. Valladolid (Friday, 7pm, Teledeporte and ASOBAL TV). It will be the starting gun for the fourth chapter of the professional season, with O Gatañal as the opening host, aiming to lead Quique Domínguez's team to their first victory.

The team from Cangas wants to break the early-season trend with ambition and the goal of climbing the overall standings, facing their rivals, David Pisonero's squad, at the top. The 'Blue Gladiators' are in a position to maintain their privileged status for another week after showing great form. They must impose their playing philosophy in one of the great strongholds of ASOBAL handball and manage their list of absences in the squad. 

BM. Caserío Ciudad Real and ABANCA Ademar León will complete the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL Friday, minutes after the open broadcast match of round 4 (8:30pm, ASOBAL TV + Eurosport 2). Santi Urdiales' team calls on the 'Quijote Arena' factor again to try to add two points after a good start to the professional competition, with a record of one draw and one win in the first three weeks of official matches. Luis Puertas' side, meanwhile, aims to chain their second consecutive win after debuting days ago against Frigoríficos del Morrazo, with Gonzalo Pérez Arce eager to keep breaking records, already among the top scorers in the ranking.

Saturday's round doubles the entertainment stakes of the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL with six matches, making it, to date, the day when the most top-tier Spanish handball clubs will take the 40x20 court – all live through the ASOBAL TV platform. First up will be Fraikin BM. Granollers, another leader in the overall standings, hosting REBI Balonmano Cuenca (5:30pm, ASOBAL TV). Lidio Jiménez's team will fight to take their spoils from the Palau d'Esports, home turf of MVP Marcos Fis, Pablo Urdangarín, and Jordi Deumal, a member of the latest 'ideal seven'.

At the same time, the champion, Barça, returns to ASOBAL territory to face HORNEO BM. Alicante (5:30pm, ASOBAL TV) at the Palau Blaugrana, seeking their second win of the season. The same situation applies to Cajasol Sevilla BM. Proin, who recorded their first-ever Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL victory in round 3. Antonio García's squad, led by Chema Márquez after his display at El Sargal, visits Guerrer@s Naveros, where a Viveros Herol BM. Nava awaits, promising to give their all to break their points drought.

Focus on excitement at both the bottom of the standings and the summit, with Bathco BM. Torrelavega and Dicorpebal Logroño La Rioja waiting for their chance, with four points, one win behind the current leaders. The 'Orange Squad' hosts Tubos Aranda Villa de Aranda (7pm, ASOBAL TV, Eurosport 2), with good feelings despite having only recorded one draw this season, and the team led by 'All Star ASOBAL' coach Miguel Ángel Velasco will face Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (8pm, ASOBAL TV) at home. IRUDEK Bidasoa Irun, sitting atop the standings, will defend their position against Cajasol Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil (8:30pm, ASOBAL TV), who seek their second away win following the result achieved in the first round in the Andalusian derby.