Hercules vs Athletic Bilbao Match Preview
An Olympic squad is back at Spain's top flight league, and having already been defeated 3-1 by Real Madrid Hercules will have now a test of equal forces against Athletic to start this season. Hercules' coach Esteban Vico looked rather disappointed by the unexpected delay in the last acquisitions, as three key new players will be unable to perform on the debut match: Mohammed Starr, Nelson Valdez and goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen will strengthen the team but not for this match, in which the Herculean identity will be tested. The crowds will be anxious by team's return to La Liga, but the manager will have to keep players' nerves calmed down to take better advantage of the momentum the team has been developing. A victory will secure an easier path to secure the permanence, while a defeat might destroy team's spirit. Team's coach is impatient by David Trezeguet's signing, as a striker of his weight could completely change the perspective of the team... But this match will have to be fought with Hercules' natural strengths. Will they be enough to bag the first victory of the league?
Antonio Rubinos Pérez will be the referee of the first match of the season, and this might be a sign of good will for athletic, as the team has won almost half the matches refereed by Perez. Last week's friendly victory over Catania boosted the confidence of the players, eager to improve last year's standing (in which Athletic finished at the 8th position, close to claim a place in the Europa League). After some controversy David Lopez finally signed for the team for three seasons. Lopez has over 90 caps with Athletic and has been an integral part of the performance of the team both in domestic and international competitions. Oscar De Marcos will be once again the offensive lighthouse of the Lions, as proven against the Italian squad. Joaquin Caparros believes this year, the true force of the Lions will be shown. Will they make the first step this Saturday's afternoon?
Hercules vs Athletic Bilbao Match Report
Joaquin Caparros' Athletic was a rival too strong for Hercules to deal with on the first match of the season. Spain's international Fernando Llorente brought disappointment to Hercules, whose hunger for glory was left unsatisfied. Lion's manager declared the match wasand now starts from all over over the world going to be tough from the beginning, and the isolation of Llorente on Hercules' area was compromising even more the path towards the victory. But certain players can change the course of a match in a single moment, as it was shown clearly. Hercules' lack of offensive ideas forced the defenders to rely on violence to keep Athletic under control, and for that reason Matias Fritzler was sent off at the end of the match.
Llorente's goal was decisive, as Athletic's confidence was boosted once the upper hand was obtained. Seven shots on target in the whole match for both teams made for quite a boring match, but for Athletic the three points are of utmost importance; The team has a tight schedule waiting ahead and a triumphal debut feed the illusion of claiming a place within Europa's best. Hercules suffered on the first match, but there's still time for the team to find itself and secure its permanence in La Liga.
