Hercules opened the year waiting for reinforcements and bracing for a string of injuries that had tested the squad’s depth in defense. Lolo Escobar opted for continuity in the build, while Ander Vitora’s attacking ideas added a sharper edge up front. Nine players remained in the squad, keeping Jean Paul in reserve to sustain a familiar roster balance. Facing a tough, determined opponent and a stubborn field of artificial turf, the Alicante club carried the weight of expectation. Sagunto Atlético, riding high on home confidence in the league’s opening phase, believed a positive result could rekindle the push needed to climb the table. The matchup promised a physically demanding test for a team determined to climb from the lower reaches toward midtable security.
The match began with cautious tempo, a battle shaped by tight defensive lines and quick transitions. Hercules finally carved out a real chance as Raúl Ruiz launched a rapid opening move, followed by Sandro Toscano’s clever heel pass and Ander Vitora delivering a whipped cross that tested the goalkeeper. The hosts sensed momentary lethargy in their opponents, a sign that the balance could tilt if the visitors offered even a little more in attack. Yet the danger lay in Saguntino’s ability to generate chances by playing direct, efficient football—an approach that tested the visitors whenever they lost possession. A contentious moment arrived when Michel Herrero appeared to be fouled in the buildup to a domestic goal. The referee halted play, Nacho executed a precise shot from the edge of the area, beating Carlos Abad, and a corner from the second post followed as the clock ticked toward the break. The sequence underscored the visitors’ vulnerability under sustained pressure and the host’s willingness to push through setbacks with sharp set-piece execution.
Hercules was largely stifled in the opening half, edging toward a premature exit from the rivalry’s volatile first-division storyline with a single goal against. Escobar adjusted his plans, bringing Cedrés on in place of Ander and moving Jean Paul higher to spearhead the attack in the second period. Yet the turning point came when César Díaz outpaced Riera, found space on the advance, and clipped a finish past Abad. The goal highlighted defensive gaps that had begun to surface under fatigue, marking the first time the visitors had fallen behind on the scoreboard in Escobar’s tenure. It was a moment that demanded urgent response and disciplined resilience from the squad, testing how they could recalibrate after conceding and shift momentum back in their favor.
The spark returned through Jean Paul, whose individual breakthrough reignited hope for the visitors. He threaded his way through the home defense in daring fashion, delivering a strike that restored parity and electrified the Alicante stands. The equalizer reenergized the entire team as Saguntino stepped back, ceding territory to their opponent and inviting pressure that they could not entirely contain. The late stages unfolded as a controlled siege—a tactical weathering of the storm, with Hercules pressing high and the home side defending with grit. Another sequence of quick passing and smart running culminated in Felipe being fed by a late-linked move from Jean Paul, prompting a surge of applause for his decisive contribution. The Blue and Whites, renowned for never surrendering, pressed for an end-to-end assessment of the match, and the outcome swung once more when Sandro Toscano found the back of the net in a dramatic counterattack. The late strike completed a remarkable turnaround, signaling a triumphant start to the year for Hercules and underscoring the team’s resolve to translate energy and belief into real results on the road and at home alike.