Competition tightens as Hércules eyes promotion push
The contest remains fierce but not extinguished. Manresa’s home defeat to Prat by 1-2 opens a window for Hércules to close the gap with the playoff zone as much as possible. If Hércules can beat Deportivo Aragón this Sunday at 11:30 in the morning, they will either sit level on points with the playoff teams or be just one point behind. Terrassa would overtake Badalona Futur in the afternoon.
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the Alicante club. A crucial step in the goal race is needed. Any stumble that denies points would be costly, but not as damaging as Manresa slipping to a rival fighting to avoid relegation. Yet the Real Zaragoza triumph already logged as the twelfth win signals another significant mental and football setback, naturally.
With four rounds left in the regular phase and two straight away games following a visit to Rico Pérez after the capital Maña Alzira and Saguntino Athletic, defeating Emilio Larraz’s team could clear a path to the post-season, despite the blue and white side’s inconsistent form so far.
Lolo Escobar must consolidate his team’s standing with a major win, and this morning’s match is a chance to do just that. The Extremadura coach is keen to bring Ander Vitoria and Sergio Marcos back into the fold, two players among his most impactful options. The third option remains unavailable due to a left toe injury that kept him out of the most recent fixture.
TELEVISION
The match can be watched free of charge and streamed on the Aragón TV website. The game between Deportivo Aragón and Hércules is available live on the Aragón TV streaming platform. The service is free and accessible via the public broadcaster. Copy and paste the link into a browser to access the page and view the meeting.
The aim is to feature the striker Josip Višnjak in the squad, with confidence in Salah. This afternoon at the crucial meeting at the Steel site, where Hércules’ reserve squad remains the final hope to salvage the season. For that to occur, the Alicante side must win and Silla, who is not contesting Villarreal C nor facing Orihuela in the race for the title, must perform strongly. The results across the RFEF Third Division see all matches kicking off at the same time, at six o’clock.
Manu Navarro, Dani Marín and Salah won’t travel with the first team to join the reserves in this final bid to save the category
The decision to leave Sandro Toscano out was made by the coach on a technical basis. If he is not selected to start with a double pivot, Maxi and Cesar Moreno will be deployed in a more offensive setup. Even as Escobar is pleased by the Italian midfielder’s form, the decision aims to reinforce the attack. Players like Luque Junior, Alvarito, and John Paul, with Michel Herrero just behind them, will lineup behind the central defenders to initiate the attack.
Escobar’s plan includes Ander Vitoria, Sergio Marcos and Víctor Eimil, while Sandro Toscano remains with the Alicante side due to a tactical choice. Dani Marín and Manu Navarro will also travel with the reserve squad; Víctor Eimil travels again, and Diego Jiménez and Felipe Chacartegui will have three defenders on the bench as they board the bus. If Hércules can gain the advantage in Zaragoza, the natural move would be to drop back from the goal area, though the goalkeeper would return to the lineup after a Roger Riera penalty.
Lolo Escobar: “I wish I knew why my players play so hard”
Pedro Rojas
Nico Espinosa and Christian Cedres will not wear blue and white again this season unless Lolo saves the duo Raul Ruiz‑Diego, the captain who is a right winger. The coach publicly suggested they have not met the professional minimum. If more firepower is needed for the competition, that trio could be the last resort. At this stage, fielding a confident roster without nerves or pressure seems difficult, and the league does not offer easy opportunities.
Source: Aragón TV coverage and post-match analysis from the club’s camp.