Rubén Torrecilla is a devout Christian and Catholic who cherishes the noon mass. He tends to prefer playing in the afternoon, after dinner, following a wholesome morning with family. He isn’t fond of noon football matches played in professional settings. He accepts them, resists them, yet if given control, he would likely choose Formentera at 12:00. On the first date Rico Pérez had in the morning, he would choose the same timing after the painful wound in Sant Adrià de Besós.
Defeat against the Espanyol reserve team is expected to bring noticeable consequences. It would mark a clear shift away from a pattern of repeated selections. The blue-and-white coach announced preventive changes to keep the team’s spirit alive and to ensure players do not feel that any position is a divine entitlement.
A third defeat in Barcelona could hasten the move of the trailing team into the starting XI. Miguel Mari will occupy the space on the grass where it previously belonged, alongside Carlos de la Nava — the highlight of last week’s disappointment. A serious mistake in defending a great striker haunts the coach, who is still troubled by what produced the draw.
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The substitution appears to be the most straightforward adjustment unless the Extremadura native wants to play distractedly; it will not be the only change. The blue-and-whites indicated three to four alterations following the previous game, as stated by the coach in a press conference before the nineteenth match.
Line decisions could bring back Juanmi Garcia in place of José Ma, though defense on the second Spanish goal lagged. In midfield, Torrecilla considered reducing the number of midfielders to three to tighten the balance.
Agustín Coscia may start for the first time and will continue to keep coach Nico Espinosa from the lineup
In this scenario, alongside the potential inclusion of the former Hercules goalkeeper’s son, one of the attackers could be dropped. A left-sided winger, Richie Dapaah, could return after recovery from a virus that kept him from the Sports City match on Sunday. The Ghanaian, who holds a Spanish passport, would line up on the left, with Ketu on the right to support offensive projections as an inside midfielder alongside Samu.
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Six Hercules players on the brink of suspension
Carlos Mangada, Roger Colomina, Ryan Nolan, Josema Gómez, Kalvin Ketu, and Alfonso Candelas risk missing next Sunday’s match in Torrent if they pick up another warning today. Each has four yellow cards, making discipline a critical concern for the squad in the weeks ahead.
First possession may be a test for Agustín Coscia, who rests the team’s top scorer, Mark Mendes, who has worn four-fifths of the team’s load whenever available. Mendes, an Argentinian signing who hoped to stand out after a strong year with Tudelano, has yet to enjoy continuity due to a lingering Achilles tendon issue since arriving in the city.
Without official call
Based on rehearsals, four moves appear most likely, yet Torrecilla chose not to reveal his plans for the upcoming week. The competitive tension remains high as the Balearic clash nears. The team has won three of eight away games while staying deeply involved in the relegation battle.
| Richie: “I really want to perform at Rico Pérez”
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The draw against Europa the day before and the two consecutive wins before facing the Barcelona side serve as support for the coach. Maikel Romero, a player who has appeared for the club on 243 occasions from the bench, remains a familiar figure in the squad’s journey.
The Alicante team claimed a 1-2 island victory in the first round. Gorriz matched the target achieved by alvarito, with Mendes steering the blue-and-whites to an early lead through a pressure-driven move from the penalty spot. Each time a clean sheet is preserved, it inspires belief in a resilient opponent who often shows little interest in taking big risks.