From the outside, the structure looks solid. In appearance, distribution, space, and naming, the layout feels convincing. Even the flow of play—the way a ball is steered toward the goal—occurs with an unusual naturalness, a result of a few, carefully chosen elements at this club over the past decade. Yet there is a sense of fragility. It won’t endure unless the balance holds. They measure every minute—each ball movement, each positional shift—and just when the clocks seem to drag, the core idea loses its bite and the unknown feels the same as the starting point: should the team rely on a double pivot in midfield or a single midfielder just behind the line?
Reaction
It is clear Hercules must grow from the second option, the boldest, the most spectacular to watch, yet the plan still needs more oxygen, muscles, and perhaps greater speed and nerve on the flanks. The central rivals are tough to crack when faced unaided, while their opponents remain difficult to bypass. The challenge is not just about technique; it’s about tightening the weave between defense and attack so the team can sustain pressure when the game opens up.
The Alicante team is proving, unlike in previous seasons, that it can play two very productive football styles, but it needs one to harmonize the other and fully exploit it over the course of sustained pressure. Both approaches exist in the league, as has happened in recent pre-season fixtures. Yet conviction wavers when the legs lag behind, and assembling the pieces into a coherent whole remains hard in the situation Hércules faces, especially after Unión Adarve ended their promotion hopes without penalties. Paco Pena was free to bid… nearly two months later.
Felipe Chacartegui, who started with a bandage on his leg, requested a change at halftime due to his illness.
Yesterday again, only a few players from the previous campaign shared ownership. Some even just joined, including Roger Rivera. The crowd is eager for the best version of the team, yet it’s reasonable to begin adding players in quick succession so that what appears now as a strong collective project doesn’t become a mere stream. Even without checking the stopwatch, Rico Pérez offered a snapshot of a promising evolution, with the coach responding well to the impact of fresh ideas.
Hércules began with pieces of its best lineup at home. The squad was close to complete, with Maxi covering the backline and keeping the team moving. The two wingers, Nico and Cedrés, held their positions high in the home area, while the central defense trio—Oriol Alsina and the partners behind—sought balance and control, trying to steady the rhythm with precise ball circulation.
What emerged were clean exits, steady transitions, and regulated build-ups aimed at lifting the tempo. The first open chance arrived through a combination involving Nico, Sergio Marcos, and Ander. Later, Nick and Raul Ruiz found the target with a bending effort. A turnover by Maxi triggered a sequence: a planted ball, a pass thread into the space where Ander awaited, and Nico entering the race; a split-second later, he was nearly through on goal, only a heartbeat away from concluding in a goal-scoring moment.
The stand’s mood pivoted when a potential own goal was discussed after Badalona struck the crossbar and post with a hurried shot. One shot by Maxi lingered as a possible miscue, the ball ricocheting off posts and defenders before the blue and whites concluded their early foray. Then legs grew heavy, Míchel stopped delivering bright moments, and Badalona stepped up to produce the clearest move of the first half. Dylan hesitated, nearly failing to read the defender behind him. Felipe’s thigh twinge signaled a pause, and Emily took his place as the whistle neared halftime.
With the Galician winger, Hércules gained momentum but lost some of the initiative on the point, and the Catalan side used that to take a 0-1 lead when Edgar moved neatly between central and wing positions, finishing with a low shot that found the far corner. The Catalans, unlike the Alicante side, exercised patience and found the reward for controlling the tempo. The on-bench reactions were instantaneous; lacking competition, Míchel faded, while the Leon native turned to César to balance the mid-block approach endorsed by Badalona.
Data Sheet
Hércules: Carlos Abad, Raúl Ruiz, Roger Riera, Dylan, Felipe (Victor Eimil 45′), Maxi, Sergio Marcos, Míchel (César Moreno 52′), Nico (Alvarito 52′), Cedrés (Villacañas 72′), Ander Victory (Jack Harper 52′). Badalona: Isaac Becerra, Márquez (Torras 71′), Dani, Roger Barnils, Juan Forlín, Carbià (Adrià 63′), Édgar, Peke (Crespo 71′), Facu García (Toni Larrosa 63′), Mateo Enríquez, Mill. Targets: 0-1 Edgar 51, 1-1 Roger Riera 66. Referee: Juan Francisco Roca Robles. Yellow cards: César Moreno, Maxi Ribero, Víctor Villacañas for Hércules and Torras for Badalona. Event: José Rico Pérez. Attendance exceeded 4,000 for the league opener. A moment of silence was observed in memory of former members. Supporters expressed their frustration with the entry process as the match began.