Sadly this game will be remembered for the horrific knee injury sustained by Barça's 17-year-old left back Alex Grimaldo rather than for the football.
Hércules arrived at the Miniestadi looking to prolong Barça's three game losing streak. The visitors themselves have had an indifferent season and it is easy to forget that just two and a half years ago, this was a team, promoted from the Segunda Division, that inflicted a Camp Nou defeat on Pep Guardiola's La Liga champions.
Barça certainly had the best of the opening exchanges, exerting almost constant pressure on Falcón's goal. Rafinha should've done much better when well placed and unmarked by the penalty spot on the quarter hour, and a beautiful curling shot that was arrowing into the top corner from Sergi Roberto deserved a goal. Only an acrobatic save by the under pressure Falcón saw the game remain goalless.
Not long after, Joan Roman, who was enjoying his best match for the blaugrana, sent in a low curler of his own, the keeper once again equal to his efforts. Hércules was having to resort to long ball tactics and any attacking play was rare, with the goal threats snuffed out with ease by the Barça back line.
Barça countered at pace after one such foray from Nacho González. As the Hércules defence struggled to return to their positions, Joan Roman sent a wonderful low cross right across the 6 yard box, which criminally went unpunished, no other attacker on the wavelength of the impressive young Catalan.
It seemed to be just a matter of time before the home side went ahead, their opponents all over the place. No cohesion, teamwork or desire. Yet on 25 minutes, it was the away side that came closest to opening the scoring.
A wonderful corner was dipping right under the crossbar, but Oier made a dramatic punch to push it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Hércules almost scored again, Nacho González getting his feet tangled when about to pull the trigger. It was a warning sign for Eusebio's side.
For the next five minutes, neither team deserved any credit for an awful passage of play. It was like watching a game of 'hot potato', no one willing to put their foot on the ball, impose themselves and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Just after the half hour Oier produced a stunning tip onto the post to deny the visitors a certain goal. It turned out to be a match winning save.
As we eased into half time, Nacho González was harshly awarded a yellow for the visitors. As he slid in for the tackle, the ball was played directly onto his hand. There was nothing the player could do yet the official still produced the customary card. Surely a rule that the RFEF need to take a look at….
As Barça built again, Rafinha was taken out by a head high boot right on the edge of the box but unfortunately for Luis Alberto, his resulting free kick was just over the bar. There was still time for Sergi Roberto to miss a double chance when it would've been easier to score.
A driving run into the box was finished with a low hard shot straight at the keeper. The rebound came straight back to the on rushing Roberto and with Falcón grounded, he somehow contrived to put his shot wide. It remained 0-0 at the break.
Unlike the first half, only a weaving run from Rafinha, with ultimately no reward, was all the crowd had to marvel at in the first ten minutes of the second half. Then, on 57 minutes, disaster for the home team and Grimaldo. As the left back went challenging for the ball with Hércules defender Mora he was clipped accidentally by the defender whilst already slipping over.
He screamed in pain and immediately signaled to the bench. Going off on a stretcher, it was obvious this was a serious blow to the player and it was later confirmed he had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.
He was replaced by Kiko Femenía for the remainder of the match but the gravitas of the injury to Grimaldo seemed to take the shine out of the game. Apart from a fantastic low strike from Rafinha on 67 which ultimately won the home side the match, there seemed to be much ebb and flow but without any real end product.
Some late Barça pressure, including a 94th minute free kick which was blasted over with the last kick of the match, was as good as it got.
Whilst Eusebio clearly has more work to do on the training pitch with his players, he will have been happy that they have arrested the slide and earned 3 vital points.
Barça B: Oier, Patric, Sergi Gómez, Muniesa, Planas, Illie, Sergi Roberto (Grimaldo, min 46 [Kiko Femenía, min 60], Rafinha, Luis Alberto, Joan Román (Espinosa, min 87), Dongou.
Hércules: Falcón, Juanra, Escassi, Sardinero, Portillo, Redondo, Mora, Paglialunga (Borja, min 75), Edu Bedia (Diego Rivas, min 58), Nacho González (Mario Rosas, min 46), Jordi.
