Relegation battlers Cadiz and Real Valladolid will fight it out at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla in what promises to be a crucial match in the grand scheme of the relegation scene.
These two sides have faced off 11 times in the past with the hosts taking home four of those games. Their visitors on Friday have only managed to cross the line on two occasions with the two sides sharing the spoils on five occasions. The last time these two sides met in the league was back in September last year and Cadiz won the game 0-1, thanks to a late winner by Alvaro Negredo.
Cadiz have endured a difficult season this time around and three vital points are the need of the hour for the El Submarino Amarillo. Cadiz barely survived relegation last time around to ensure their spot in the Spanish top flight for the third season in a row for the first time since the early 1990s. That being said, the hosts are coming on the back of two successive defeats against Atletico Madrid (5-1) and Mallorca (1-0) with both of those losses coming away from home. Overall, they have only managed to pick up a win and a draw from their last five and so are not exactly in th best of forms at the moment. They will return home for this match-up but will be wary that they hold one of the worst home records this season, having picked up only 21 points from 17 outings. So, the onus is on Sergio Gonzalez’s side to make the best of their home advantage in what is potentially their season-defining game. Moreover, with a crucial run of games coming up against Villarreal (A), Celta Vigo (H), and relegation-confirmed (A) Elche, Cadiz will look to steer clear from the drop zone.
Gonzalez will be without Victor Chust, Roger Marti, Jon Ander Garrido, Brian Ocampo, and Alex Fernandez for the Friday clash due to injury while Ivan Alejo is suspended for this vital fixture. This will allow Theo Bongonda to make his case for a spot in the starting lineup.
Real Valladolid are not far off from Cadiz on the points table only GD separating them and their hosts on Friday. The Pucela have a difficult run of fixtures coming up against champions Barcelona (H), Almeria (A), and Getafe (H) and so this game assumes even more importance for them than it would normally do. Valladolid, like Cadiz, have also endured a difficult season but their backs are now against their wall and it will be a case of them trying to stay alive in the Spanish top-flight having only earned a promotion from the Segunda division two years back. The White and Violets will be making the trip to Nuveo Mirandilla on the back of four successive defeats against Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, and Sevilla. Paulo Pezzolano’s men have conceded 12 goals in their last four outings which amounts to three per game. Their fate is very much in their own hands and the equation is straightforward for them: win their remaining four games and survive but it will not be easy for them.
Selim Amallah, Anuar Tuhami, and Luis Perez will continue to sit out due to injury. There could also be a series of changes following Valladolid’s 0-3 loss to Sevilla at home with Oscar Plano and Sergio Leon in contention to make their return to the XI.
Lucas Perez can potentially be the X-factor in this game. Perez has made 15 appearances in La Liga this season and has found the back of the net four times. The 34-year-old is a decisive player in the final third and with his experience, he can not only find opportunities to score but create them as well. So, Valladolid will be tasked with stopping Perez from making any significant in-roads during the 90 which could potentially derail their La Liga campaign in this final stretch of the season.
Sergio Leon will be the most important forward for his team on Friday. The Spaniard has found the net eight times this season. Leon is adept at taking set pieces and is a threat while attacking on the break. Standing at 178 cm tall, Leon is also difficult to defend against when the aerial balls are played in. So, it will be difficult to defend against a player that has multiple ways to score but the home side will look to get the job done.
Expert Opinion: These are two sides with plenty at stake and all to play for on Friday. Cadiz have struggled at home this season and Valladolid have lost their last four. So, it will be a case of who wants it more on Friday with the eventual winner virtually moving a step closer to guaranteeing their safety in La Liga.
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