"I thought I would fall crying and I would fall. I was afraid of falling and seeing the Cup on the ground," recalls Miquel Prat, historic captain of BM Granollers. 50 years ago, the club from Valles became the first Catalan club and the first in the entire state to win a continental title, the Recopa, by defeating German Dankersen in extra time in the final by 26 to 24 in the old municipal sports hall, the popular Parquet. A historic milestone achieved by a bunch of home-grown players who weren't even professionals. A golden generation, an era of tight jerseys, long beards, and dreams of freedom, with senyeras in the stands and a city devoted to a team that paved the way.

A save by Pau Panitti (Mataró, 2004) with thirteen seconds left in the game allowed BM Granollers to beat Baia Mare (29-28) and secure their place in the Main Round of the EHF European League. That was just a few days ago, and it allowed Antonio Rama's team to overcome a six-goal deficit. One of the key figures of the night was Panitti, who, despite admitting he didn't have a great game, was crucial with two saves in the final minutes. The last one was vital to prevent the tie. Rama has managed to build a young squad – with an average age of 22.5 – but a very ambitious one. "We're a team that goes against the grain; when things are at their worst, that's when we push the hardest," Panitti explained at ARA.

Two young men play festive music in the street with a Casio electronic device in exchange for any donations from passersby. "When I was little, my parents already did it," explains Antonio García Robledo (Llagosta, 1984). He's 41 years old and still competing at the highest level. "Because I enjoy it so much, I couldn't wait to say it enough," he says to justify his retirement age. He'll do so when this season ends. We're in Pere Quart Square in Llagosta, in front of the apartment where he lived with his parents and where, as a child, he played soccer with friends after school at Les Planes School. A gigantic universe encompassed in just 50 meters.

Martina Capdevila Barbany (Granollers, 2001) will be enjoying a very special weekend. Starting Friday, the capital of Vallès Oriental will host the final phase of the Queen's Cup for handball, with KH-7 BM Granollers hosting the tournament and vying for the title for the first time. The team from Vallès will face Balonmano Morvedre on Friday in the quarterfinals and are dreaming of reaching Sunday's final thanks to the goals scored by Capdevila, who at 23 has already scored more than 500 in the league. In fact, this year she leads the top scorers' standings. Now she wants to win a title in front of her hometown. Her family's history is the story of Granollers handball.