A Hercules to Weep Away from Rico Pérez: Only 23% of Points Gained

Despite the efforts of coach Rubén Torrecilla, Hercules cannot change the script. The Groundhog Day scenario repeats every matchday, with the blanquiazul team thrilling at Rico Pérez as quickly as it frustrates its faithful away. The latest setback against Sevilla Atlético (1-0) leaves Hercules out of the promotion spots, needing a win in the next Rico Pérez clash to avoid falling behind. The same old story, although the team has managed to win these crucial encounters so far.

Torrecilla's side has only gained 23% of the points available away from Alicante, a dire situation. Only Recreativo de Huelva has worse away numbers, and coincidentally, they are the next opponent at Rico Pérez, Saturday at 20:00.

Last Sunday's clash against Sevilla's reserve team turned on a grave error by Carlos Abad while playing the ball with his feet, but aside from that mishap, the match followed the same script as the entire season, with a lack of ambition being the main feature of Hercules' play. Torrecilla's team finished the Sevilla match without a shot on target, and the Extremaduran coach admitted afterward that he was desperate, not knowing which buttons to press to stop his team's pronounced bipolarity.

After the tenth defeat of the season, Hercules faces another match at Rico Pérez with little room for error if they want to stay in the fight for promotion spots. Midfielder Roger Colomina will return to the starting eleven against Recreativo de Huelva, and it remains to be seen if winger Nico Espinosa will be fit in time. The Alicante native suffers from a minor muscle tear, and the coaching staff is clear they will not take any risks with the youth player due to his injury history and explosiveness. The presence of left-back Retu is also uncertain, as he missed out against Sevilla Atlético due to last-minute knee tendon discomfort. Striker Yanis Senhadji (meniscus surgery) and defender Abraham del Moral (who will not train this week due to a reopened knee wound) are ruled out for the next match.