Preview: Sevilla vs. Cadiz
Two teams in La Liga’s relegation zone will lock horns on Saturday evening, with Sevilla welcoming Cadiz to Estadio Ramon.
A difficult season for the hosts has seen them collect just 15 points from 17 games to sit down in 19th position in the table, while Cadiz are one point and one spot above their opponents heading into this clash.
Sevilla have not played outside of La Liga for more than 20 years, while they have finished fourth in each of their last three campaigns in Spain’s top flight, suffering only four losses during a brilliant 2021-22 season.
It has been a different story this term, though, with Los Nervionenses currently battling against relegation, with 15 points from 17 matches leaving them in 19th position in the table.
Sevilla have won three, drawn six and lost eight times in La Liga this season, but it is not quite time to hit the panic button, as they are only two points behind 14th-placed Espanyol and just four from Valencia in 12th, so a couple of strong results in quick succession would propel them up the table.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side suffered a 2-1 loss to Girona in the league last weekend, but they will enter this match off the back of a positive result, beating Alaves 1-0 on Tuesday to progress to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Sevilla now have two huge home games against Cadiz and Elche – the two teams in the relegation zone with them – before the small matter of a trip to Barcelona at the start of February.
Cadiz, meanwhile, were held to a 1-1 draw by basement side Elche last time out, with Ezequiel Ponce scoring a late goal for the visitors after Brian Ocampo had made the breakthrough.
The Yellow Submarine have picked up five points from their last three league games, though, while they have only been beaten by Real Madrid in Spain’s top flight since October 22.
Goals have been a real problem for Cadiz this season, finding the back of the net on 12 occasions, and three of those were scored by Lucas Perez, who recently left the club to return to Deportivo La Coruna.
Sergio Gonzalez’s side have picked up eight points from their eight away league games this season, which is far from disastrous, and they will be taking on a Sevilla outfit with the second-worst record at home.
Cadiz also claimed a point at Estadio Ramon in the league last season, and the fact that they will be the fresher of the two sides could work in their advantage in Saturday’s huge clash at the bottom of the table.
Sevilla La Liga form:
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Sevilla form (all competitions):
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Cadiz La Liga form:
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Cadiz form (all competitions):
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We say: Sevilla 2-1 Cadiz
This is such a difficult match to call for a number of reasons. On paper, Sevilla are the favourites, but they have really struggled this season, and their home form has been so disappointing. Cadiz are also not losing at the moment, but we just have a feeling that Sevilla could navigate their way to a huge three points.