Alvarito's Doubt Puts Hércules' Defense in Check

Hércules is facing mounting problems on the right flank. Samu Vázquez, who was brought back this summer from Albacete and expected to be a starter, remains out of action, and his substitute, Alvarito, is also in doubt. The Madrid player suffered a severe contusion in his quadriceps that kept him sidelined all last week. His recovery has not progressed as well as the medical team had hoped, which is why Alvarito did not play in Ibiza. His condition remains uncertain, and the versatile player will undergo further tests in the coming hours to determine if he can make it to Sunday's derby against league leaders Real Murcia.

Coach Rubén Torrecilla made a decision last week that he had been reluctant to take until now: moving Alejandro Sotillos from central defense to right-back. This shift allowed veteran Josema to enter the lineup, where he performed well alongside Montoro. Torrecilla will wait until the last moment for Alvarito, but it seems clear that if he doesn't train during the week, he won't play against Murcia. Samu Vázquez, the much-missed regular right-back for whom Hércules fought so hard last summer, remains out of action for another week.

The situation is also delicate on the other flank. Abraham del Moral couldn't participate in pre-season training after undergoing surgery in May, making it difficult for him to catch up with his teammates. When he tried to accelerate his recovery, he suffered a muscle injury. Torrecilla expects him back this week and will assess his performance to determine if he can challenge Retu for minutes.

Also in the infirmary is Canary Islander José Artiles, who suffered a muscle strain in his abductor while making a pass last Friday. He couldn't play in Ibiza and is awaiting further tests.

The Hércules-Murcia match will gather about 15,000 spectators at Rico Pérez this Saturday, with around 2,000 Murcia fans expected to occupy the World Cup stand. The pepper team leads the league and their fan base is euphoric, having marked the trip to Alicante on their calendars due to its proximity. Meanwhile, Hércules has around 12,000 season ticket holders riding the wave of their recent promotion, making this one of the most attractive fixtures of the Primera RFEF matchday.