Relegation-threatened Cadiz are all set to host second-placed Barcelona, who have been flying high in the recent past.
Cadiz are all set to square up against Barcelona on Saturday. The home team need to string in a few positive results together if they want to remain in La Liga with a handful of games remaining. Meanwhile, the visitors will look to keep the momentum going.
Cadiz are 18th on the points table with 25 points in their 30 matches. They are three points behind 17th-placed Rayo Vallecano, and a run of good results can surely help them avoid the drop.
The hosts have won two out of their last three games and are heading into this one on the back of a 1-0 win over Granada. While Cadiz will be confident, going up against Barcelona won’t be easy given the kind of form they have been in.
The Blaugrana are second on the points table with 67 points out of their 30 matches. Winning the league seems impossible, but they could have an outside chance if Real Madrid slip up. Barcelona have won last five matches in all competitions and will look to make it six against Cadiz.
They are heading into this one on the back of a 3-2 win over PSG in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals first leg away from home. That result is a huge boost for Xavi’s men, who will look to seal three points in this away match. Meanwhile, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Cadiz
The home team will be without the services of Rominigue Kouame, Maxi Gomez, Fede San Emeterio, and Luis Hernandez. Apart from the four players, Mauricio Pellegrino has everyone else available for selection. Cadiz will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Jeremias Ledesma will be in goal.
Isaac Carcelen and Javi Hernandez will feature as the full-backs for the home team, while Victor Chust and Rafael Jimenez Jarque will take charge in the heart of the defence. The back four will look to stop a star-studded Barcelona attack.
Ruben Sobrino and Robert Navarro will feature out wide on the flanks. They will provide width to their attacks and also look to help out their full-backs. We will see Ruben Alcaraz pair up with Alex Fernandez in the centre of the park. Finally, Juanmi will form the strike partnership alongside Chris Ramos.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Ledesma; Carcelen, Chust, Fali, Javi Hernandez; Navarro, Alcaraz, Alex, Sobrino; Ramos, Juanmi
Barcelona
The Catalan giants are still without the services of Gavi and Alejandro Balde. Meanwhile, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen all made their returns in their most recent fixture, against PSG.
With Christensen and Sergi Roberto suspended from the second leg against PSG, the duo is expected to start in this fixture. Meanwhile, Inigo Martinez, Joao Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski are suspended from this fixture. Xavi will look to rotate the XI that started in their fixture against PSG to ensure they are fresh for the second leg at home. He will stick to the 4-3-3 formation.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will continue in goal for the visitors. Jules Kounde and Hector Fort will feature as the full-backs, while Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen will take charge in the heart of the defence.
In midfield, Sergi Roberto will start alongside Fermin Lopez and Frenkie de Jong. The trio will look to dictate the pace of the game and have the majority of the ball. Raphinha will likely start on the right flank, while Joao Felix will feature on the left. And in the absence of Lewandowski, Ferran Torres will be lead the line for Barcelona against Cadiz.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Fort; Fermin Lopez, Roberto, de Jong; Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Felix
Key Stats
- Barcelona have won each of their last five games in all competitions.
- Cadiz have only suffered four defeats at home this season.
- Barcelona have the second-based record away from home this season. They have picked up 30 points in 14 games and haven’t suffered a defeat on the road yet.
- The Catalan giants have been unbeaten in all competitions since the end of January.
- The visitors have the third-best attack in the league having scored 61 goals in their 30 outings.
Player to Watch
Raphinha
Raphinha has to be the player to watch out for here given the kind of form he was in against PSG last time out. He singlehandedly caused a lot of problems for Les Parisiens, and the Brazilian will be eager to continue from where he had left off against PSG.
In the ongoing season, the former Leeds United winger has contributed towards 18 goals in just over 1,500 minutes of first-team action in his 30 outings. He has been on fire of late, and Xavi Hernandez will hope he gets it done for Barcelona once again.
Prediction
Cadiz 0-2 Barcelona
While Cadiz have revived themselves in the recent past with a few wins, they still do not have enough in their tanks to take down a giant like Barcelona who are in red-hot form. The Catalan giants are heading into this one after defeating PSG at Parc des Princes in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals first leg, and they will be confident of getting it done against a relegation-threatened outfit. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 2-0 win for the away team.