Alcoyano heads north this Saturday for a crucial clash at Lezama, taking on Athletic B, a club currently entrenched in the Second Federation. The match kicks off at 5pm, and the visitors will want to seize a vital win to steady their season after an away loss that cast a longer shadow over the campaign. Vicente Parras’ team arrives with the memory of recent weeks sharpening their resolve, aware that every point gained could prove decisive in their bid for stability and, if fortune favors them, a late push toward promotion areas.
Looking back to the moments that shaped the season, Alcoyano found themselves in a better position five games from the end, clinging to play-off possibilities as momentum built. A 3-2 home defeat altered those plans and complicated the path to the second division, a setback felt deeply by the squad and staff. Betis Deportivo, also currently facing a tougher stretch near the bottom, adds to the sense of urgency surrounding Alcoyano’s league campaign. The context is clear: every fixture in this phase carries greater weight, not just for points but for the confidence and direction of the team going forward.
A sense of week-long reflection has lingered in Alcoyano’s corridors. The manager, Vicente Parras, framed the challenge in practical terms: the drive to score more points must be matched by the physical toll it takes. “We didn’t face the same pressures then as we do now, and I’m mindful that the need to find goals could exhaust the legs,” he noted during this week’s discussions. The comment underscored a shift from earlier in the season when resources and urgency felt different, and now every match demands both efficiency and stamina from a squad that is pushing to finish strong.
The travel plan for Alcoyano points toward Bilbao, with the squad set to arrive on Friday and to hold activation training on Saturday at seven in the evening at Lezama. The timing is practical: a short, focused session in the same environment where the next day intensities will be tested. This preparation mirrors a general approach used by teams who want to align on tactics early and minimize surprises as kickoff approaches, especially when facing a side keen to capitalize on a good home record and a compact, disciplined setup.
In terms of personnel, Alcoyano will travel with essentially the full roster available, save for two players sidelined by long-term injuries: defender Raúl González and midfielder Imanol García. Their absence will inevitably shape selection and rotational planning, but the depth of the squad remains evident. The possible starting XI is framed as a balanced 4-4-2/4-3-3 hybrid, designed to impose pace and control in midfield and to press when Athletic B attempts to build from the back. The line-up under consideration includes Miguel Banuz in goal, with a back four featuring Lillo, Primi, Álvaro Vega and Pablo Carbonell. In midfield, Armental, Moyita, Juanan and Liberto could line up to create a dense, moving platform that supports both defense and the attack, while Aguero and Raul Alcaina are positioned to supply width and finishing options.
The match is viewed as a decisive moment for Parras and his players, a point in the campaign where collecting three points would yield meaningful oxygen and momentum. Reaching the three-point haul would not only ease the immediate pressure but also send a message about Alcoyano’s capacity to compete in a demanding stretch of fixtures. The tactical plan emphasizes compact defense, quick transitions, and a willingness to press aggressively when the ball is lost, aiming to disrupt Athletic B’s rhythm and force errors in the opponent’s half. As always, the coaching staff will be looking for sharp decision-making from the forward pairing and sustained intensity from the midfield trios who are charged with controlling tempo and space. The broader goal is simple: finish the season with dignity, collect as many points as possible, and set up a platform for next year’s campaign that can build on the lessons learned this term.