Sevilla – Cadiz

Sevilla and Cadiz have a productive second half

On Saturday 21 January, Sevilla take on Cadiz at home. This season is turning into a nightmare for the Andalusians. The team have already effectively lost their chances of qualifying to the European competitions, but they are also at risk of relegation. An astonishing decline for a club that has been a regular participant in the Champions League in recent years. Sevilla are only nineteenth in La Liga, one point behind Cadiz. It seemed that the positive momentum the club would receive following the appointment of Jorge Sampaoli, but the alignment has only partially materialised. The team looks very decent after the World Cup break in the Copa del Rey, but there the level of their opponents is not delighting either. So far, Sevilla have only beaten clubs from the lower leagues, although they have reached the quarter-finals. In the championship, Sevilla secured an important win over Getafe, followed by an away defeat at the hands of Girona. As a result, the team slipped back into the relegation zone. The situation regarding the injured and disqualified remains tense. An important defender Acuña will miss the next game due to yellow cards. Dario Gomez is out injured. Telles, Delaney and Marcao are still out due to injuries. Cadiz are predictably fighting for survival. Curiously, the team pulled out of the King's Cup back in December, focusing only on the championship. There is positive momentum in La Liga. Cadiz have picked up five points in three games since the break. A magnificent schedule for an outsider. At the same time, they also managed to beat Valencia away. Cadiz still look much better without the ball. The club is more comfortable to operate on the counterattack. However, it is much more difficult to play in the first leg against their neighbours in the table. Cadiz failed to beat hopeless Elche at home in the last round. It's possible that those points will be lacking in the fight for survival. Cadiz's attacking options remain very weak. Top scorer Lucas Perez, who scored three goals, left the team in the winter. Now the situation is very curious. There is only one player in the team, who has scored more than one goal this season. The main attacking hope now lies with Alvaro Negredo. The 37-year-old veteran is in good form, judging by the match against Elche, but still no goals. Cadiz's main trump card is goalkeeper Ledesma. The goalkeeper still leaves the modest club with a chance of salvation. Looking at advanced statistics, Cadiz have the worst defence in the league after Elche. Sevilla are third from bottom. It's logical to expect a close game, but in the first half. After the break, the hosts are unlikely to settle for a draw. If Cadiz concede first, however, they will give their opponents a chance to play on space.