Five dates, affordable for most fans, yet no clear favorite among top contenders. Five weeks remain in the season, and the course of the campaign will be decided soon. Hercules hosts Olot this Sunday at 18:00, a match that could redefine the fight to avoid relegation from the Tercera Federación. A narrow point gap separates the teams, with three coaches steering the Catalan side — Manix Mandiola, Matías Risueño, and Albert Blázquez, who stands as the club’s hopeful figure.
Data from the Hercules-Olot match, set to take place at Rico Pérez in Alicante this Sunday, provides a snapshot of the clash between two clubs at different stages of their campaigns. The blue-and-whites seek momentum, while the visitors from Olot aim to climb out of a precarious position, eager to cut into the lead that separates survival from trouble.
Their opponent closed the first half of the season in a similar strait, lingering in a penultimate slot and eight points from safety. Now they have risen two spots and collected three points from a goal that still looks distant in the broader chart. Olot and Alicante find themselves in Rico Pérez pursuing divergent objectives, yet the hosts recently added a fresh point. In the second round, Olot managed to outpace their rival, sharpening their resolve for the remaining fixtures.
Hercules must claim three points to stem the slide at home, where results have been uneven, winning fewer than half of their league games this season. The club faces a period of reckoning in which every point matters, and the coach has underscored the urgency of steady improvement after a difficult stretch in National Football’s third group. The message from the training staff emphasizes reform and resilience as the campaign nears its final sprint.
The Catalan defender, second in the team’s scoring chart with five goals, missed matches due to suspension and now returns to the fold ready to contribute again.
After 29 league games, Hercules has shown a solid defensive organization paired with a pragmatic attack. The team has been reliable at the back, with a goalkeeper delivering standout performances, but the attack still seeks more consistent cohesion beyond individual moments. Alicante, a veteran unit, has been the most dependable of the 22 blue-and-white players since the season began, and they will be looking to finish on a strong note in front of their home crowd in this final shift of the afternoon.
The victory in their recent fixture was decisive, producing a 3-1 result against Alzira as Rico Pérez hosted a tense encounter in which the home side answered Valencia’s early lead. Olot will attempt to convert another promising performance into a full three points, especially after a notable setback for Josep Cerdà who exits the attack due to injury. The clock is ticking, and every goal could prove pivotal in this tightly contested race for survival.
Diego Jiménez is returning to squad duties for the first time since February, though he has not yet started a league game this season.
Blázquez has recovered two key players: Gonzalo Pereira and David Bigas. Their presence strengthens the defense as Olot recaptured some momentum with a 1-2 win over Paterna, followed by a 1-4 triumph at Formentera. Olot also secured a victory against Sport Club (2-0) and earned a draw on the leader’s ground, Teruel, with a 0-0 result. A stretch of unexpected defeats against Terrassa, Lleida, and Saguntino has added pressure, but Alicante currently holds firm in their bid for survival. Scoring will be decisive at Rico Pérez, though the coach insists that recent results have eased the intensity of the fight against the blue and whites.
DATA: Olot collected 17 points in the second half of the season, matching Hercules’ total in that period. The Catalans closed the first round near relegation risk, navigating a season with three coaches, and sit five points from safety. They won four of their twelve matches and lost three, one fewer loss than Hercules, and one more win than Alicante.
With Cedres and Nico Espinosa sidelined by injuries, and a lingering doubt over Jack Harper’s availability due to a toe injury, the squad faces personnel challenges. Diego Jimenez has returned from absence, but the team must rebuild on the field without a steady rhythm. In Santa Eulalia, the central pairing of Dani Marine and Mario Gomez will try to form a reliable defensive duet that can stabilize the team’s shape while the rest of the lineup looks to harmonize in the final stretch.
The coach’s viewpoint: Hercules has the best staff in the group
Hercules faced a recent setback without key leaders, including a critical defender who missed matches against Peña Deportiva and Teruel. The absence of a seasoned central figure added strain, and the squad now aims to rebound by leveraging their depth and tactical discipline. The late-season plan hinges on how well the team converts opportunities and how quickly the defense can impose control on proceedings against a stubborn Olot outfit.
Roger Riera is viewed as more than just a defender for Hercules, his role on the pitch extending into leadership and influence in build-up play. The selection and tactical approach for the match will reflect the balance between attacking intent and defensive solidity as both sides seek to claim a vital win in this crucial phase of the campaign.
The narrative remains focused on a pivotal decision point: the outcome could hinge on whether the side can sustain pressure, finalize chances, and translate effort into points. The broader implications of the match will shape the remainder of the season for both clubs, influencing confidence, form, and momentum as they head toward the final fixtures.