Real Madrid will want to bag all three points when they travel to Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla to face Cadiz in their penultimate La Liga fixture of the season.
Real Madrid will be aiming to notch up another win and build some momentum ahead of their UEFA Champions League final later this month when they face off against relegation-battlers Cadiz away from home on Sunday evening in La Liga.
Real Madrid were crowned the champions of Spain following their 4-0 triumph over Espanyol in late April. Following that game, Los Blancos booked a place in the Champions League final by eliminating Manchester City in a pulsating encounter. However, they seemed to have taken their eye off the ball in the aftermath, losing 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the league.
But a 6-0 thumping of Levante earlier this week ensured that Carlo Ancelotti’s men returned to winning ways, and they will be keen on building on that to ensure they go into the showpiece event in France with momentum behind them. However, standing in Real Madrid’s way will be a resolute Cadiz outfit, who are fighting for survival in La Liga.
Cadiz are currently 17th in the table, two points clear of Mallorca in 18th. Los Piratas head into Sunday’s game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. But before that, Sergio’s side had held Sevilla to a draw and beaten Barcelona at Camp Nou while running Athletic Club very close in a 3-2 defeat. Having already taken a point off of Real Madrid this season, they will back themselves to do so again this weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Cadiz
?️ @sergio8gonzalez "Será un partido difícil, pero lucharemos por la victoria"
? Vídeo completo en https://t.co/h7lvHCghNK
— Cádiz Club de Fútbol (@Cadiz_CF) May 14, 2022
Cadiz are set to be without winger Ivan Alejo for the game against the champions. Varazdat Haroyan and Fede San Emeterio are also doubts for the clash due to injuries. Manager Sergio is expected to set his team up in a 4-4-2 formation and look to shield the goalkeeper with two banks of four while attempting to pick apart Real Madrid on the break.
Jeremias Ledesma ought to be the man guarding the goal for the home team. He will be protected by a backline comprising Carlos Akapa and Alfonso Espino as the full-backs, while Luis Hernandez and Real Madrid loanee Victor Chust start as the centre-halves. The full-backs will stay tight and compact alongside the centre-backs to deny spaces for the visiting team’s forwards.
Captain Jose Mari and Ruben Alcaraz will hold the fort in the centre of the park and look to curtail the influence of their Real Madrid counterparts. Alex Fernandez and Oussama Idrissi ought to line up as the wide midfielders and will likely act as the main supply line of chances for the hosts and look to provide crosses for the strikers to attack.
Up top, leading goalscorer Alvaro Negredo is a certain starter and will likely be paired with Lucas Perez, with Choco Lozano, Ruben Sobrino and Florin Andone providing alternative options from the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Ledesma; Akapo, Hernandez, Chust, Espino; Fernandez, Alcaraz, Mari, Idrissi; Negredo, Perez
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he will be resting Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior and Thibaut Courtois for Sunday’s visit to Cadiz. The Real Madrid manager has welcomed Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal and Eden Hazard back to the squad. But David Alaba, Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Luka Jovic remain unavailable. Luka Modric also misses out due to suspension for accumulation of cards.
?✅ Our squad for the match ? @Cadiz_CFEN!#CádizRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/wCnlnjBDJH
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) May 14, 2022
With Courtois rested, Andriy Lunin becomes an automatic pick in goal for Real Madrid. In Alaba’s absence, Nacho is likely to start in defence and could be partnered by Jesus Vallejo, with Eder Militao unlikely to be risked. The returning Carvajal and Ferland Mendy should take up the full-back slots and provide attacking support to the wingers at every possible opportunity.
Eduardo Camavinga should continue operating in the No. 6 role as he did against Levante. He will have support from Toni Kroos, who should come in for the suspended Modric and Federico Valverde. However, Dani Ceballos could be an option if Ancelotti opts to give the Uruguayan a breather.
Moving into the attacking third of the pitch, Mariano Diaz is the only centre-forward travelling to Cadiz and should start on Sunday. He will be provided attacking support by Marco Asensio and UEFA Champions League semi-final hero Rodrygo Goes. Eden Hazard should get some minutes off the bench in the second half.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Lunin; Carvajal, Vallejo, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Rodrygo, Mariano, Asensio
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won both of their last two visits to Cadiz in La Liga. They could record three away wins in a row against the minnows for the second time in La Liga (after three between 1987 and 1990).
- Cadiz have managed to take points in two of their last three La Liga matches against Real Madrid (W1 D1 L1).
- After a 0-1 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano, Real Madrid could suffer two away defeats in a row without scoring in La Liga for the first time since October 2018 under Julen Lopetegui.
- Cadiz have won three of their last five La Liga home matches (L2), having failed to come out on top in their previous 14 games at the Nuevo Mirandilla (D8 L6).
- At 21 years and 394 days, Vinicius Junior became the second-youngest player to score a hat-trick for Real Madrid in La Liga in the 21st century, following his treble versus Levante last time out.
Player to Watch
Rodrygo Goes
?| 7 goals in Rodrygo's last 8 games. ⭐ #rmalive pic.twitter.com/UjTehY14Rj
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 12, 2022
With both Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior rested, the onus of producing the goods in the final third on Sunday evening falls onto the shoulders of Rodrygo Goes. The 21-year-old was the hero for Real Madrid last week as his double in less than two minutes allowed his team to scale a comeback and eliminate Manchester City from the Champions League.
While starting opportunities have not been very forthcoming for the young Brazilian, he has acquitted himself more often than not when given a chance. Rodrygo was on target for Real Madrid against Levante earlier this week and has netted five in his last four games in all competitions. He will be keen on adding to his tally on Sunday to take his goal tally for the season into double figures.
Prediction
Cadiz 1-1 Real Madrid
Cadiz have shown that they can hold their own against the big teams, having held Real Madrid to a draw in the reverse fixture. They have also collected four points from their two matches against Barcelona, defeating them at Camp Nou last month while also holding Sevilla to a draw.
Real Madrid come into the game on the back of a 6-0 hammering of Levante. However, they will be without several key players as Carlo Ancelotti will rest Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois, while Luka Modric is suspended. So, the hosts will fancy getting a positive result against the La Liga champions, and The Hard Tackle predicts a scored draw.
