Portillo Is Huesca's Lifeline in Their Battle to Beat the Drop
Francisco Portillo has stepped up massively for Huesca in their survival fight, scoring his first goal and leading the charge to stay in Segunda División.
Francisco Portillo was brought to Huesca last summer as a wily veteran presence — and right now, he’s proving worth every penny of that decision.
The Old Dog Doing the Business
At 35, Portillo isn’t exactly the youngest lad in the dressing room, but he’s been the one stepping up when Huesca needed someone to grab the situation by the scruff of the neck. There were spells earlier in the season where he wasn’t quite hitting his best, if we’re being honest, but over the last couple of months he’s found another gear entirely.
Key things he’s been doing:
- Nailing down a regular starting spot under manager Bolo
- Acting as the main creative reference point for his teammates
- Scoring his first goal for the club — a tidy finish against Ceuta that sealed the three points
That goal against Ceuta wasn’t just nice to have — it was the sort of moment that changes the mood around a club fighting for its life.
What’s at Stake
Huesca are in a proper scrap at the bottom of Segunda División, and dropping out of the professional game entirely would be a serious blow to the club. This isn’t just about pride — it’s about finances, infrastructure, the lot. Portillo, alongside Jordi Escobar, has become one of the most important figures in the squad as the season reaches its most critical stretch.
The veteran hasn’t got a promotion to chase this time around — something he’d become fairly accustomed to across his career — but keeping Huesca up would carry just as much weight, given the circumstances.
Next Up: A Chance to Pull Clear
Huesca host bottom-of-the-table Mirandés at El Alcoraz, and it’s the sort of fixture you absolutely have to win if you’re serious about survival. Back-to-back victories would do wonders for the mood around the place and give them genuine breathing room above the relegation zone.
With Portillo fit and in form, the odds look a bit more favourable. He’s the fella the fans look to when it gets difficult, and right now, he’s not letting them down.