Two teams battling to remain in Spain's top flight this season will lock horns for a relegation six-pointer on Sunday afternoon, with Cadiz welcoming Celta Vigo to Nuevo Mirandilla.
Cadiz are currently 18th in the La Liga table, three points behind 17th-placed Celta, with both teams fighting to keep their top-flight status for the 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
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Cadiz have not actually been victorious in La Liga since the start of September, with a record of two wins, 11 draws and 12 defeats from 25 matches this season bringing them 17 points, which is only enough for 18th spot.
The Yellow Submarine, as mentioned, are only three points behind 17th-placed Celta, though, so a victory in this match would be absolutely invaluable, as the team bid to escape the bottom three.
The Andalusian outfit will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Osasuna, with the result making it five losses from their last seven matches in Spain's top flight during a hugely disappointing run of form.
Mauricio Pellegrino's side have picked up 12 of their 17 points at home this season, so their form in front of their own supporters is likely to be crucial when it comes to determining whether survival is possible.
Cadiz have only lost one of their last six La Liga meetings with Celta, meanwhile, and they recorded a 1-0 victory when the two sides locked horns for the corresponding contest last season.
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Celta have also hugely underperformed this season, with the Sky Blues only picking up 20 points from their 25 matches, which has left them in 17th position in the table.
Rafael Benitez's side will enter this match off the back of a run of four losses from their last five league matches, including a 2-1 home reverse to the champions Barcelona last time out.
Celta did record an impressive 3-0 win over Osasuna at the start of the month, but they were unable to build on the result, and the team are undoubtedly locked in a relegation battle at this stage of the campaign.
The Sky Blues have finished eighth, 11th and 13th in their last three seasons at this level, while they have not operated outside of La Liga since the 2011-12 campaign, so relegation this term would be a surprise.
Celta have a record of two wins, four draws and six losses from their 12 matches on their travels this season, and they have managed 18 away goals in 2023-24, with the team full of quality in the forward positions.
Team News
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Cadiz will be without the services of Javi Hernandez, Fali, Fede San Emeterio, Luis Hernandez and Roger Marti for Sunday's La Liga contest with Celta through injury.
Meanwhile, there will also be no Lucas Pires for the home side, with the full-back picking up a milestone yellow card during the defeat to Osasuna last time out.
There is expected to be a reshuffle from the team's last match, with Ivan Alejo and Mamadou Mbaye potentially coming into the side, while there could also be a spot in a wide position for Darwin Machis.
As for Celta, Javi Manquillo and Joseph Aidoo will both be unavailable for selection this weekend, while Carlos Dotor remains a major doubt due to a muscular issue.
Mihailo Ristic and Carlos Dominguez were both forced off against Barcelona last time out, and neither are expected to be available for this match, so head coach Benitez will be forced into at least two changes.
Unai Nunez and Manu Sanchez are expected to be the players to benefit from the double injury blow, but it should otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against the champions.
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Mere, Mbaye, Chust, Zaldua; Alejo, Escalante, Alcaraz, Machis; Juanmi, Ramos
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Mingueza, Starfelt, U Nunez, M Sanchez; Allende, Beltran, Tapia, De la Torre; Aspas, Larsen
We say: Cadiz 1-1 Celta Vigo
It is so difficult to back either of these two sides at the moment, so we have had to settle on a 1-1 draw, which was also on the scoreline in the reverse meeting between the teams in Vigo earlier this season. The desire not to lose is expected to make Sunday's contest a tense and nervy affair.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
