Twenty football players boarded the plane to Formentera. All had first team experience except Agustín Coscia and Nico Espinosa. Coscia was sidelined by injury, while Espinosa, the blue-white captain, continues to push through a demanding recovery plan in hopes of reaching peak form to compete at the highest level. Ruben Torrecilla brought in a large portion of the squad to keep strengthening group unity, playing a pivotal role in refining game concepts and fostering a culture of coexistence.
Hugo Sanz and Diego Lorenzo enter the call when the two last players join the blue-white project, initially expected to watch teammates from the stands before stepping onto the field. The Extremaduran player is likely to repeat the same lineup, and if nothing goes wrong in the first half, those waiting for their moment will get their chance after the break.
Hércules faces today’s fixture after a 1-0 victory over Espanyol B in their league opener, the first of 12 trips to artificial turf venues. There is much to balance in these tests, and a steady return to form is the goal. The surface remains a talking point, yet the aim is to finish the normal season at the top in May with consistent results.
Alicante has yet to win in Formentera, with one defeat and one draw in two occasions. They have met the Balearic side four times and have never found more than one goal in any match against the current leaders. Maikel Romero shifted from defending the Sociedad Deportiva shield on the grass to steering the club from the bench.
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Two visits and no victory on Formentera’s artificial turf
Hércules remains without a win on that island, visiting twice in league play. In 2017 the result was a draw, and last season they lost 2-1 in the second leg despite an early goal. The blue-whites have struggled to score more than a single goal against the islanders.
The club’s approach after a major restructuring of the dressing room is to focus on securing safety while pursuing bigger challenges. Following a setback against CE Europe, the team aims to claim the first three points by exploiting injuries on the worn municipal field that hinder the home side.
first of twelve
Pedro Rojas
Ibiza’s coach will not be able to rely on the starting goalkeeper Dominik Johan Guzman, who received call-ups for two Concacaf Nations League matches. The blue-white squad left for Ibiza after lunch, then ferried to Formentera, arriving around ten o’clock in the evening. The island clash can be watched via the broadcaster’s online signal, with access through a paid subscription. That same operator holds image rights for Hércules.