UD Ibiza stumbled once more on Saturday at the Rico Pérez stadium, falling 2-1 to Hércules. The win mathematically secured Hércules’ survival, while leaving the Celestes still needing to secure their own safety with just two games remaining. For yet another time, Miguel Álvarez’s side hit the same wall that has plagued them all season: a lack of decisiveness in both penalty areas.
The Ibiza club remains four points above the relegation zone after Tarazona’s victory over Nàstic. They must now lock in their Primera RFEF status in the final two matchdays against rivals fighting for promotion playoffs. Next Saturday, a red-hot Cartagena—suffering only two defeats in their last 15 matches—visits Can Misses. The season concludes for UD Ibiza at Can Dragó against Europa, another team vying for a promotion spot.
In Alicante, UD Ibiza produced one of their best first halves of the campaign. Miguel Álvarez’s men clearly dominated a shackled Hércules, controlling possession, tempo, and creating constant chances. Yet their dominance proved fruitless. The Celestes fired five shots before halftime, three on target, and hit the post through Svensson in the 10th minute. Just when the visitors looked superior, Hércules punished them on their first real dangerous attack, taking a 1-0 lead via Puch in the 44th minute.
History repeated itself after the break. The hosts doubled their advantage with just their second shot on target, exposing UD Ibiza’s biggest weakness: efficiency. Football often boils down to precision in the areas, and this team has failed that exam all season long.
Despite being the sixth-least conceded side in the group, the Celestes’ defense lacks the necessary assurance. Only Arnau Solà, since his winter arrival, has nailed down the left-back spot. On the right, Unai Medina and Sergio Díez have alternated, while the center-back pairing remains unsettled. Kembo has started seven consecutive games and seems to have earned the coach’s trust, though Miguel Álvarez has also tried Nacho, Manu Pedre, Monju, and even Iago Indias moving back from midfield.
But the season’s biggest drag has been the attack. UD Ibiza have failed to score in 17 of their 36 league matches so far—a damning statistic for a team built to challenge for promotion and boasting players expected to make a difference at this level.
Davo, despite tireless work and commitment, has scored only seven goals in 35 games. The Galician striker never stops battling, but his numbers fall well short of what was expected from the team’s main offensive reference. Svensson, a winter loan from Casa Pia, has netted three times in 17 appearances without establishing the consistency needed to hold a starting spot.
Then there is Eslava, the player offering the most hope for an offensive solution. The Catalan striker arrived in January from Zamora with an ankle issue and needed time to get into rhythm, but every time he takes the pitch he shows something different. In 11 games wearing the Celeste shirt, he has scored two goals, but his influence goes far beyond numbers. Against Atlético Sanluqueño, he needed just 24 minutes to assist Fran Castillo and then score soon after. In Alicante, playing half an hour with his team a man down, he nearly revived the game.
