Cadiz will be bidding to give their La Liga survival hopes a huge boost when they welcome the champions Real Madrid to Nuevo Mirandilla on Sunday evening.
The home side are currently 17th in the table, two points clear of 18th-placed Mallorca, while Real Madrid, who thumped Levante 6-0 on Thursday, secured the title at the end of April.
Match preview
© Reuters
Cadiz will enter Sunday's contest off the back of a 3-0 defeat at Real Sociedad on Thursday, but they are outside of the relegation zone heading into the next set of fixtures in Spain's top flight.
Indeed, a total of 35 points from 36 matches has left them in 17th position, just two points clear of 18th-placed Mallorca, meaning that they could secure survival this weekend depending on how Mallorca get on against Rayo Vallecano, which takes place at the same time as this match.
Cadiz are bidding to make it back-to-back seasons at this level of football for the first time since 1993, but it has been a struggle this term, particularly considering that they were so impressive last season, finishing 12th on their return to the top flight after a lengthy absence.
Sergio Gonzalez's side have the worst home record in La Liga this term, picking up 17 points from 18 matches, and they will be welcoming a Real Madrid side with the strongest away record in Spain's top flight this season.
The Pirates, who will finish their campaign away to Alaves on May 22, claimed a point in a goalless draw at Bernabeu earlier this season, but Real Madrid ran out 3-0 winners when the two sides locked horns in the corresponding contest last term.
© Reuters
Real Madrid, meanwhile, suffered a 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid last weekend but managed to return to winning ways on Thursday, putting six unanswered goals past Levante to relegate their opponents.
Vinicius Junior hit a hat trick in the 6-0 win, while Ferland Mendy, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo were also on the scoresheet for a team that secured the title at the end of April by thumping Espanyol.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have two more league games left against Cadiz and Real Betis, but it would be fair to say that their thoughts are firmly on the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28, and the head coach is looking to keep his players fresh ahead of the fixture with the Reds.
Los Blancos have won 26, drawn six and lost four of their 36 league games to collect 84 points, which has left them 12 clear of second-placed Barcelona, and it would be a brilliant campaign for the club if they managed to beat Liverpool to win another European Cup.
Real Madrid have picked up 41 points on their travels in La Liga this term, meanwhile, and will be looking to keep confidence high with another strong win this weekend, while the fact that Cadiz are battling for their lives at the bottom of the table makes this far from a dead rubber.
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Cadiz will again be without the services of Varazdat Haroyan due to a shoulder problem, while Ivan Alejo is a major doubt, having been withdrawn against Real Sociedad just 12 minutes after entering the field.
The home side are otherwise in strong shape, and head coach Sergio is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack, but there will be changes from the side that started on Thursday.
Indeed, Ruben Alcaraz could be introduced to bolster the midfield, while Alvaro Negredo is pushing to feature alongside Lucas Perez in the final third of the field.
As for Real Madrid, David Alaba, Isco, Gareth Bale and Marcelo were all absent against Levante through injury and that is again the case here, but Marco Asensio, Dani Ceballos and Eden Hazard are back.
Dani Carvajal is back, though, having been rested on Thursday, while there will be changes from the side that took to the field last time out, as Ancelotti is rotating his squad ahead of the European Cup final.
Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Eder Militao and Casemiro are all expected to return, but Vinicius and Benzema are both being rested for this match, in addition to Thibaut Courtois, while Luka Modric is suspended.
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Akapo, Hernandez, Chust, Espino; Sobrino, Mari, Alcaraz, Idrissi; Negredo, Perez
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Camavinga, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Mariano, Rodrygo
We say: Cadiz 1-2 Real Madrid
This is a much bigger match for Cadiz than it is for Real Madrid, but it is difficult to back against the visitors, especially considering their performance against Levante on Thursday. Cadiz will be motivated to secure a positive result, but we believe that Los Blancos will claim all three points this weekend.
