Abad to Test Fitness on Saturday Ahead of Antequera Clash

Hércules' first-choice goalkeeper, Carlos Abad, will test his fitness this Saturday ahead of Sunday's crucial match at 14:00 against Antequera, a direct rival for promotion. Medical tests have revealed no muscle injury, allowing him to be included in the squad travelling to Malaga. "He has no injury, just a minor discomfort... If the discomfort persists, he won't play, but he will travel with the team. If Nando has to play, we are confident because he showed against Ibiza that he has the skills and personality to defend Hércules' goal," stated Torrecilla on Friday.

The coach from Extremadura acknowledged that central defender Alejandro Sotillos is doubtful for Sunday's match due to an ankle sprain suffered last week, while attacking midfielder Antonio Aranda will only be able to contribute in the final minutes due to a bone bruise on his toe. Meanwhile, midfielder Roger Colomina has fully recovered from a muscle micro-tear sustained in Alcoy and is competing for a starting spot alongside Mangada and Artiles. Thus, the only confirmed absences for Hércules against Antequera are forwards Richie Dapaah and Yanis Senhadji, both recovering from knee surgery.

Torrecilla described the clash against a team with four more points than the blue and whites as a "big match." "They are a team that plays well, wants to dominate possession, and has good players. We need to stay focused, make them uncomfortable, and strive for victory, which is what we all want," said the Hércules coach, who remains cautious about discussing promotion goals. "First, we aim to secure mathematical safety, and then we'll see... Eight games remain, and everything is still possible. It will be decided in the end, I'm sure of that. We are hopeful, our fans are committed, and we all know, myself included, that Hércules belongs in professional football. Last year, we achieved a beautiful promotion, but this league is tougher, and every match is a battle... let's see how far we can go," Torrecilla emphasized.

The probable line-up for Hércules in Antequera is as follows: Nando Almodóvar; Samu Vázquez, Josema, Montoro, Retu; Mangada, Artiles; Javi Moreno, Oriol Soldevila, Nico Espinosa; and Dani Romera.