Cajasol Ángel Ximénez now knows the schedule for the 2026-27 Liga Asobal season, which will mark its fourteenth year in the top tier of Spanish handball. The team from Puente Genil, coached by Toni Malla, will have a thrilling start to the competition.
The first league match will see the team from Puente Genil play an Andalusian derby against the newly promoted Sevilla BM Proin on their home court, on the weekend of September 12 and 13. Subsequently, in the second round, Ángel Ximénez will host the formidable Barça at the Alcalde Miguel Salas, who remain the team to beat after winning all national and international titles.
After this demanding start, the team will face a stretch of competition with more accessible rivals, including home games against Bathco BM Torrelavega and Dicorpebal Logroño La Rioja, and away matches against Irudek Bidasoa Irun, Recoletas Salud Atlético Valladolid, and Fraikin BM Granollers. It won't be until the eighth round, in late October, that they face a direct rival for permanence, Tubos Aranda Villa de Aranda.
The second half of the season will commence in Puente Genil with the Andalusian derby as the first match of 2027. The league will conclude on June 5, with Cajasol Ángel Ximénez hosting REBI Balonmano Cuenca in the final round, after previously facing Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (away), Abanca Ademar León (home), Horneo BM Alicante (away), and BM Caserío Ciudad Real (away).
Coach Toni Malla viewed the schedule positively, despite the tough start: "We clearly have a tough start, but from round 8 onwards we will have matches from our league, apart from the first round in Seville, so we have to look at the glass half full." He added that playing against top rivals early on can be an opportunity to "pull off a surprise" if the team maintains last season's work and the new signings integrate well.
The pre-season for Ángel Ximénez will begin on Monday, July 27, with six weeks of preparation before the league starts. The plan includes a visit to neighboring Portugal on August 7 and 8 (dates to be confirmed), as well as matches in Cuenca (August 13) and Ciudad Real (August 14). They will also visit Trops Málaga on August 19.
The team will participate in the Copa de Andalucía, organized by the Andalusian Federation, which this year introduces a new format. The semifinals will be held in San Fernando on August 29, where BM Dólmenes Antequera will be the opponent. The objective is to reach the final on September 5 in Palma del Río to defend the Andalusian title.
