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.
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.
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.
Cadiz La Liga form:
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Real Madrid La Liga form:
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Real Madrid form (all competitions):
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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.