It should be, and it will be. Beyond their own home, there is no room for another setback. Heracles faces its city rival tomorrow, Sunday, with a Teruel side that carries no glare needed to solidify its leadership. In truth, the first team to fall into the Worst recordings of the five Second RFEF groups would become a real test of competitiveness for those who must face promotion later in the season.
The numbers look favorable for the Aragon club, yet perspective matters. If the last eight matches are considered (the period under the current manager), Lolo Escobar has steered the Alicante-based team through a demanding stretch. The blue-and-whites rose by one point more than Teruel during this span, maintaining a delicate balance: 17 to 16 in goals scored. Yet the battle for points in Rico Pérez’s arena hints that Teruel has been the more prolific in front of goal. Estephane Emana has slipped to a season-low, collecting four draws in five dates, a sign of the team’s ongoing struggle to finish chances yet still maintain momentum.
Teruel ends the season with a clean score in twelve rounds, more than half the games played.
Teruel has tasted defeat only once this season. On November 5, the home match at Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque marked the end of a long run of positive results for the blue and white outfit. Across the campaign, the leader has played eleven matches, winning three (against Alzira, Badalona Futur, and Formentera) and drawing seven (Olot, CD Ibiza, Atlético Saguntino, Mestalla, Terrassa, Lleida, and Zaragoza B).
Teruel’s offensive strength does not lie in a high-scoring attack alone. In fact, the team registered one less goal than Hércules in the first 21 rounds, yet what stands out is its ability to avoid conceding from the opening whistle. They have conceded twelve times in that span, more than half of their fixtures, illustrating a compact, disciplined defense that can grind down opponents. Each goal scored by Teruel translates into near two points on average, a reflection of the leadership and relentless defensive work that keeps them competitive against any side. This is the foundation that has propelled them to the top and kept them in knockout contention during the last five weeks, a period marked by just one win and a string of stubborn, hard-fought results.
With Lolo Escobar at Hércules’ helm, Alicante’s squad trails the leaders by one point rather than closing the gap.
The blue-and-white dressing room leans toward the ideal that Teruel has embodied as the project matured. The setback in Torico and the Lovers, coupled with two draws and two wins in Alicante during the opening month, tempered early optimism but did not derail the longer-term plan. The squad has shown resilience and a steady buildup of confidence, even as they navigate the intense rhythm of the Second RFEF schedule.
Aragon-based clubs have conceded thirteen goals in the first twenty-one matches, with three games decided by a single goal in Ibiza and a 3-3 draw that underscored the volatility of their clashes. They show no signs of backing down—these squads fight with unwavering grit, playing through long volleys of minutes without fear. It’s the same philosophy Escobar sought to instill in his players—persistence, relentless pressure, and a belief that the next moment could define the outcome of the match.
Hércules CF: all or nothing in 50 days, with no margin for error and no single player more essential than another
The loss to Alicante’s Espanyol B did not resemble earlier reverses that preceded the arrival of the new coach. Hércules created clear chances and controlled stretches of the game, only to fail in front of goal at Dani Jarque. With a Sunday morning kickoff at 12:00 hours and an unconventional center-back pairing in place, the mission is clear: to demonstrate that no opponent in their group can claim superiority over them. They must rise to the occasion—every man, every moment.