The Catalans have conceded just one league goal at home this campaign, yet their lead at the top could be cut to five points by the time they meet Cadiz, so they’ll want to stretch their 17-game unbeaten competitive run and add even further impetus to their title charge.
FC Barcelona
After Camp Nou saw a back-and-forth 2-2 UEFA Europa League draw against Manchester United on Thursday, Barcelona will hope their prior defensive resilience is quickly restored at their famous ground. The Catalans have conceded just one league goal at home this campaign, yet their lead at the top could be cut to five points by the time they meet Cadiz, so they’ll want to stretch their 17-game unbeaten competitive run and add even further impetus to their title charge. That means Barca coach Xavi can’t afford to take his eyes off this contest despite potentially having to manage minutes in his squad ahead of next week’s UEL return leg. That’s particularly true as Barcelona have won just once in their last five La Liga matches against Cadiz and also lost this fixture last season, albeit that marked their only home H2H loss against the Yellow Submarine.
Cadiz CF
That triumph, combined with his past role at Espanyol, makes visiting manager Sergio Gonzalez persona non grata, even if he’s lost his other nine managerial career H2Hs against Barcelona, seven without scoring! His side arrive ready to address that record, having beaten Girona 2-0 last matchday to move out of the relegation zone; although sitting just two points above the bottom three ahead of the round, Cadiz will be desperate to post consecutive league wins for the first time since May 2021. The visitors need to address their recent away form to achieve that, having won just one of their last eight away competitive games. That dismal run includes defeats in their last two La Liga away games, and unless they can produce another inspired performance, the Andalusians could lose three such games in a row for the first time since April 2006!
Ultimately unhappy with being substituted, Raphinha assisted the first and scored Barcelona’s equaliser on Thursday, making it five contributions from his previous four matches. Looking to continue a scoring streak of his own, Gonzalo Escalante has netted Cadiz’s opener in their last two games. Barcelona have never conceded a first-half goal at home to Cadiz in 14 La Liga H2Hs.