Preview: Cadiz vs. Rayo Vallecano - prediction, team news, lineups

Rayo Vallecano will be looking to end a run of five straight La Liga defeats when they travel to Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Sunday afternoon to take on Cadiz.

The visitors, who lost in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Thursday, are currently 12th in the table, 10 points clear of 18th-placed Cadiz, who are battling to retain their status at this level of football.

Match preview

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Cadiz will enter Sunday's contest off the back of a 0-0 with Granada on Monday evening, which proved to be their third straight draw in Spain's top flight, while they have only lost one of their last six in the league, but the run of form has not allowed them to move out of the relegation zone.

Indeed, a record of three wins, 12 draws and 11 defeats from 26 matches has brought them 21 points, which is only enough for 18th position, four points behind 17th-placed Granada on the same number of games.

Sergio Gonzalez's side have the joint-worst attacking record in La Liga this term, managing just 21 goals in their 26 matches, which is a real concern as they bid to escape the bottom three, but there is still plenty of football to be played before the end of the season, and this contest is huge in the context of their campaign.

The Yellow Submarine finished 12th in La Liga last season on their return to the top flight and are looking to make it back-to-back campaigns at this level for the first time since 1993.

Cadiz suffered a 3-1 defeat when they travelled to Rayo for the reverse match earlier this season, while they have the worst home record in the top flight this term, picking up just eight points from 13 matches.

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Rayo, meanwhile, suffered Copa del Rey heartbreak on Thursday evening, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis in the second leg of their semi-final, which saw the Seville club win 3-2 on aggregate.

Bebe's 80th-minute effort looked to be forcing extra-time at Estadio Benitio Villamarin, but Borja Iglesias levelled the scores on the night in the 92nd minute, which saw Manuel Pellegrini's side advance to the final.

Rayo must now turn their attention back to La Liga, where they have lost each of their last five matches, including a 1-0 reverse at home to Real Madrid last weekend, which has left them in 12th position in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Andoni Iraola's side have credit in the bank due to their excellent first half of the season, and they should have enough to stay clear of the bottom three entering the business end of the campaign despite their worrying form, with the team not triumphing in La Liga since December 18.

Los Franjirrojos, who were promoted back to this level through the Segunda Division playoffs last season, have the worst away record in Spain's top flight this term, picking up just five points from 12 matches.

Team News

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Cadiz have no injury problems ahead of this weekend's contest, while the home side will be boosted by the return of Alfonso Espino following a suspension.

Espino is expected to return to the starting side in place of Santiago Arzamendia, but it could otherwise be the same team that took to the field for the first whistle against Granada last time out.

Alvaro Negredo should again lead the line with support from Lucas Perez and Anthony Lozano, while Carlos Akapo is likely to continue as the right-sided wing-back despite pressure from Ivan Alejo.

As for Rayo, Martin Merquelanz remains on the sidelines with a knee problem, while Alejandro Catena will be absent this weekend through suspension.

Catena's spot should be taken by Esteban Saveljich, while there might be an alteration in midfield, with Santi Comesana potentially coming in for Ismaila Ciss.

There are unlikely to be any changes in the final third of the field, though, with Alvaro Garcia and Isi Palazon again expected to support lone centre-forward Sergi Guardiola.

Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Hernandez, Fali, Chust; Akapo, Fede, Alcaraz, Espino; Perez, Negredo, Lozano

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Zidane; Balliu, Saveljich, M Suarez, F Garcia; Comesana, Valentin; Palazon, Trejo, A Garcia; Guardiola

We say: Cadiz 1-1 Rayo Vallecano

The team with the worst home record in La Liga meets the side with the worst away record, so it is difficult to call this match. Cadiz will certainly be the fresher of the two, but Rayo will be determined to bounce back from their Copa del Rey disappointment, so we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw here.

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