Hércules finds momentum with Marcos Mendes
Hércules has taken a significant step forward with the addition of Marcos Mendes, a Guinea-Bissau striker whose season is turning productive. He already has eight goals and stands among the blue-and-white club’s leading scorers over the last ten years. Mendes echoes the form he showed when Carlos Martínez called him up in the 18-19 season, a campaign in which he netted eleven goals in promotion play and added two more in cup competition.
With twenty-one matchdays completed, Mendes boasts eight goals, just four short of the mark he hit with Tarazona last season, a haul that helped the team reach promotion to Primera RFEF. In cup action, the forward has added two more goals. Before his Tarazona spell he wore the shirts of Real Murcia, Algeciras, and Osasuna, where he tallied seven goals during a stint with Navalcarnero. Serving as Hércules’ principal attacking reference, his presence on the field elevates the team’s overall performance, a point reinforced by coach Rubén Torrecilla. Mendes played a decisive role in the blue-and-white squad’s strong start, showcasing his attacking instincts and reliable finishing. His ongoing impact underlines the kind of player Hércules has long sought to reinforce the squad.
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For the first time in a long stretch, the club did not need to search for a striker in the winter market and could allocate resources to other areas. With Coscia and Mendes providing the scoring and threat in front of goal, Hércules now features a well-balanced forward line. The team faces a crucial stretch in the season, and the upcoming Saturday match will reveal whether recent form translates into results. Andratx presents a stern test at their home ground, where the artificial turf could challenge the Alicante side and test their resilience.
Alvarito, doubt
Hércules held a focused training session on Wednesday at the Antonio Valls Sports City to prepare for the upcoming match in which Alvarito remains doubtful. The winger did not train with the rest of the squad, casting doubt over his involvement on Friday. He missed Sunday’s game against Rico Pérez due to an ankle issue and trained separately from the group. The team resumed practice on the artificial surface this morning, with Rubén Torrecilla expected to speak to the media before the game in the Balearic region. Hércules also faces the absence of Artiles and a likely absence of Alvarito for the match. Despite the squad’s depth, there are no suspensions. In the official squad list, one game remains before Ketu, Josema, Juanmi, Candelas, and Nolan hit suspension thresholds. Colomina has already served his ban, and Mendes currently has three yellow cards, placing him beyond immediate risk for the moment.
Motivation runs high after Sunday’s win, when four teams contended for direct promotion to Primera RFEF.