In the current season, Hercules has clarified its priorities with a focus on a fresh start. Yet the coach did not specify which path to pursue. When a goal stain arises, clearing it becomes a tough challenge. The blue and white squad bears the mark and seems hesitant to change course, with no clear courage shown to alter the situation.
Five goals came from three forwards across 30 league appearances, and only two of them found the net. Ander Vitoria did not get his chance to be unleashed. Jack Harper opened the scoring at the start of the campaign, followed by a trio of goals from John Paul in a short sequence, until a goal against Ebro in Zaragoza two months ago.
Lolo Escobar has yet to encounter a tactical arrangement that supports the traditional number nine, a cornerstone of any project. In recent fixtures, the forward line has not paid the expected dividends, and Alvarito has not found opportunities since January 22, when the second half of the season began.
5 GOALS
Scored by the trio of forwards in a 30-day window
► Jean Paul, the best among the nine, has three goals but has not found the back of the net since February and has lost possession on several occasions.
Michael, operating as a midfielder, adds six goals from the center, a nuance acknowledged by coach Roger Riera. With four games remaining, Hercules must target a single week of success. A string of negative results, coupled with Manresa’s progress, would nearly seal the team’s fate regarding promotion from May 21. Clearing the path to goal, removing the weeds, and making the attack more efficient become urgent tasks.
ineffective formula
Extremadura’s coach faces a rethink of the attacking approach. The previous plan of exhausting the Madrid winger by pressing center backs who held a physical edge did not pay off. An injury in the last two weeks to Luke Junior, signed in the winter window and rarely utilized, prompted a shift. The winger chosen on the left, Alvarito, paired with the natural right-footed forward, creates a more balanced attacking distribution. The setup aims to challenge defenders and keep the ball in the opponent’s half, allowing for quicker second balls and more sustained pressure.
5 GOALS
Hercules during the final ten days of the league
► Only one more goal from a forward line that includes Jean Paul. Michel and Roger Riera delivered three points, while the other attackers failed to produce.
As the clock ticks, possibilities widen. A pivot-style structure with a reference nine broadens the combinations and enhances recovery. Diego Jimenez supports Zamora on the wing, with Raúl Ruiz providing a defensive shield. The same pattern appears with Michel and Tuscany, aligning with a pivot role that keeps Maxi Rivero and Cesar Moreno ready as indispensable pieces for Don Benito’s coach.
The best moments recently came from a coherent on-pitch organization. Later, losses and instability from defeats to direct rivals have left Hercules standing at a crossroads, needing to escape the current trap at the Real Zaragoza sports complex on Sunday at 11:30 am.
goaloverage
The blue and white squad must secure four more points from the remaining 12 games. Failing that, Manresa could close the gap, requiring Hercules to score ten more goals across the next four rounds, a heavy burden that has weighed on the team the most.
With Cedars and Nico sidelined, suspicions around Ander Victoria persist, and options remain limited. Once again, Hercules B failed to show much in Sunday’s match against Acero, a game overseen by the Valencia Football Association due to a serious administrative irregularity. Salah is expected to fill the Basque void in forthcoming matches.
DAMAGES TO THIRD PARTIES
An administrative error by Hercules could push Jove Español into the relegation playoff before the league’s final day.
► Hercules has faced questions over a midweek decision to list Dylan Leiva in a match against a club president, a 1-0 win at Ciudad Depotiva Antonio Valls, while the Argentine was on mutual medical leave for injuries. The Valencia Football Federation was approaching the deadline for claims related to an alleged misalignment issue raised by the opposing club.
► In Hercules, it was assumed the issue would be resolved, yet the case remains unresolved. The defender who injured his knee in December has not appeared on the mutual medical list. If officials assess the scenario on the day before the final round and determine the outcome of the match against Silla, the team will have to consider alternatives, including the possibility of relegation for the subsidiary squad if no other options emerge. The final day promises a dramatic showdown for Group 6.