This weekend, second-placed Barcelona travel south to take on Cadiz in La Liga, a team fighting desperately to avoid relegation. Barcelona, currently chasing leaders Real Madrid, can’t afford any slip-ups, while Cadiz desperately need points to secure their top-flight status. While on paper it looks like a one-sided affair, there are some intriguing narratives to consider for both teams.
Barcelona: Maintaining Momentum
Barca are in red-hot form. Under Xavi’s leadership, they’ve taken massive strides this season, boasting a strong defence with 16 clean sheets in 24 league games
Their attack, spearheaded by young talents like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, is firing on all cylinders. However, they face a quick turnaround as they have a crucial Champions League clash against PSG just four days after this match. Will they rotate their squad or go all out to keep pace with Real Madrid in the title race?
Cadiz: Fighting for Survival
Cadiz find themselves precariously placed in 18th position, just three points clear of the relegation zone. Despite their struggles, they can’t be underestimated. They’ve caused Barcelona problems in the past, winning two of their last seven encounters against the Catalan giants.
Additionally, with a full week’s rest compared to Barcelona’s busy schedule, they could be the fresher team on the pitch.
Head to Head
Barcelona has historically dominated this match up, winning 9 out of their last 13 encounters. Barcelona won the last meeting 2-0 in August 2023.
Looking at the last few meetings paints a more interesting picture:
- Feb 2023: Barcelona 2-0 Cadiz (La Liga)
- Sept 2022: Cadiz 0-4 Barcelona (La Liga)
- April 2022: Barcelona 0-1 Cadiz (La Liga)
- Sept 2021: Cadiz 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
- Barcelona: Unbeaten in their last 9 La Liga matches (W4 D5).
- Cadiz: Won their last 2 home games in La Liga.
Barcelona is currently sitting at second place in the La Liga table, while Cadiz is sitting at 18th place and will be looking to avoid a relegation spot.
Key Factors to Watch Out For
- Barcelona’s Rotation: Will Xavi prioritize La Liga or the Champions League with his team selection? A rotated squad might struggle for fluency.
- Cadiz’s Home Advantage: The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten in their last two home matches and will be determined to cause an upset.
- Barcelona’s Defensive Solidity: the Catalan giants boasts the best defensive record in La Liga, with 16 clean sheets in 24 matches.
Injury/suspension List
Cadiz:
- J. Mari – Midfielder (knee injury)
- M. Gomez – Forward (unknown injury)
- R. Kouame – Midfielder (unknown injury)
- Fede – Midfielder (knee injury)
- L. Hernandez – Defender (knee injury)
Barcelona:
- A. Balde – Defender (hamstring injury)
- Gavi – Midfielder (unknown injury)
- R. Lewandowski – Forward (suspended until 14 April 2024)
Prediction/Probability
This is a potential banana skin for Barcelona. While they’re clear favourites on paper, Cadiz’s fight for survival and Barca’s potential rotation make this a tricky encounter.
A narrow win for Barcelona (1-0 or 2-0) seems the most likely outcome. However, a determined Cadiz side cannot be entirely ruled out, especially if Barcelona underestimate them.
The Catalan giants are pipped to have a 49% probability of winning, while Cadiz only have about 24% probability, and only 27% chance of a draw taking place.
Match Details:
Competition: La Liga
Date: Saturday, 13 April 2024
Time: Kick-off: 19:00 UTC / 21:00 CEST
Venue: Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium, Cadiz, Spain
Where To Watch
TV Broadcasts:
- SuperSport channels and DStv Now streaming
- ESPN+ channels
- La LigaTV
Check for the times within your region.
Sports Websites:
Check the websites of the specific channels mentioned in the match preview (e.g., Movistar+ in Spain).
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