one stays outside
The blue and white forward remains a key consideration for the squad. He earned his place on the pitch even though his performance did not meet expectations in the latest match. The Basque striker continues to work hard, aiming to earn the trust of Sergio Mora during this final stretch of the season. With five games left in the regular slate and the possibility of two decisive playoff bouts, Hercules is close to securing promotion. Every player must deliver at full capacity as the club navigates a demanding run toward the top.
Carlos David sentenced
Carlos David will miss this Sunday’s 12:00 clash due to accumulated cautions after a hand-dispute incident in the last match against Murcia. His absence paves the way for Tano and Diego Jiménez to share central defense responsibilities. The last time a similar situation disrupted the lineup was a month prior in a difficult game against Atletico Levante that finished 2-0, a fixture that saw Bikoro sent off early. Since then, the defensive unit has remained under close scrutiny. The team has conceded 26 goals this season and has seen the gap to the league leaders widen in the process. This focus on defensive solidity comes as the squad battles for a coveted playoff position.
During the season, Aketxe emerged as one of the most talked about signings from Carmelo del Pozo this summer. The Basque forward faced an early hurdle due to an injury that limited his preseason impact and hindered his integration into the side. In the 92-93 campaign, he managed to string together goals across multiple matchdays and came uncomfortably close to matching a historic streak set by a blue-and-white icon. In a remarkable run, he found the net on five occasions across four consecutive fixtures, with four of those goals coming from the penalty spot. This performance had many predicting a breakout moment for the forward, yet a referee’s sanction for a disputed penalty halted the sequence. Since that time, goals have been harder to come by. Aketxe’s presence on the field remained influential, and his on-pitch leadership was repeatedly cited as a spark for the team.
Aketxe later signed a contract through June 30, 2022, with an option to extend for another season. Across recent seasons with UCAM and Cartagena, he has tallied a total of 42 goals, showcasing a knack for finding scoring opportunities in important matches. His best scoring season came in 2014-15, when he hit the net 20 times for Cultural. Coming through Lezama’s famed development system, the player has spent eleven seasons in the lower tiers of Spanish football and has a longstanding reputation for his work rate and goal sense. His full arc includes a senior debut with Athletic Club in La Liga on September 20, 2009 against Villarreal, a match he played for the first team. While that appearance was brief, he built a solid career in the second tier and below, surpassing the ten-goal mark in multiple seasons and achieving a 20-goal season in 2014-15 with Cultural.
With the strategy for the closing weeks in mind, the team aims to balance minutes across the roster. The forward line remains a core area of focus, as the coaches assess whether to lean on Aketxe and others to secure crucial victories needed for promotion. The coaching staff recognizes the fine line between rotation and stability and is making decisions to maximize results while preserving player health for the postseason.