Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to five matches when they travel to Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday afternoon to face Cadiz.
The visitors are currently 18th in the table, having picked up 22 points from their opening 22 games of the season, while Rayo are up in sixth position, two points ahead of seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao.
Match preview
© Reuters
Cadiz have won five, drawn seven and lost 10 of their 22 La Liga matches this season to collect 22 points, which has left them in 18th position in the table, level on points with 17th-placed Almeria.
El Submarino Amarillo will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Barcelona last weekend, but they are unbeaten at home in the league since September 10, winning three and drawing five of their last eight games in front of their own supporters.
Sergio Gonzalez's side have recorded 2-0 wins over Mallorca and Girona in their last two games in front of their own supporters, and their home form is likely to be crucial when it comes to potentially staying in the league.
Cadiz have finished 12th and 17th in their last two La Liga campaigns, and they are already enjoying their best run at this level since the early 1990s.
The Yellow Submarine beat Rayo 2-0 in the corresponding match last season, but the capital outfit recorded a 5-1 victory when the two teams locked horns last October.
© Reuters
Rayo have been one of the stories of the season in Spain's top flight, boasting 34 points from their 22 matches, which has left them in sixth position in the table.
Andoni Iraola's side are seven points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, making a top-four push unlikely, but they are two points ahead of seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao, and it would be some achievement if they were able to claim a top-six finish this term.
Rayo will bring a four-game unbeaten run until this contest, overcoming Villarreal and Almeria before drawing back-to-back matches against Getafe and Sevilla.
Los Franjirrojos finished 12th in La Liga last season on their return to the top flight, but they have never claimed higher than eighth in the top division, so the team are chasing history this season.
Rayo's home form this season has been strong, picking up 18 points from 11 matches in front of their own supporters, while they have also been impressive on their travels, claiming 16 points from 11 games courtesy of a record of four wins, four draws and three defeats.
Team News
© Reuters
Cadiz will be able to welcome Alfonso Espino back into their squad for this match, with the defender serving a suspension against Barcelona last time out.
However, the team's injury situation is unchanged, with Alvaro Negredo, Jose Mari, David Gil, Juan Cala, Victor Chust and Joseba Zaldua still unavailable for selection.
Head coach Sergio will have taken positives from the defeat to Barcelona, so it would not be a surprise to see a similar XI take to the field, although Anthony Lozano could be introduced to lead the line.
As for Rayo, head coach Iraola is expected to have a full squad available for this match.
Raul de Tomas and Unai Lopez were both second-half substitutes against Sevilla last time out and are in contention to start, but the pair could ultimately feature on the bench for the first whistle once again.
Sergio Camello, who has scored five league goals this season, remains the preferred option through the middle, with Alvaro Garcia and Isi Palazon featuring in the wide areas, while Oscar Valentin should again operate in central midfield.
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Carcelen, Hernandez, Fali, Espino; Escalante, Alcaraz; Bongonda, Alex, Ocampo; Lozano
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, F Garcia; Palazon, Comesana, Valentin, Trejo, A Garcia; Camello
We say: Cadiz 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Cadiz's recent home form must be respected, and we are therefore finding it difficult to back an away victory in this match. Rayo are enjoying an excellent campaign, though, so it is tough to back them to lose. As a result, we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw, which would not be the end of the world for either team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
