In their recent encounters with Barcelona in LaLiga, Cádiz endured a challenging run, suffering defeats in their last three matches against the Catalan giants. What’s more, Cádiz struggled to find the back of the net in any of these fixtures. This stark contrast comes after a more promising spell where they managed to maintain an unbeaten streak against Barcelona, securing two victories and two draws in their previous four meetings in the competition. As they prepare for their upcoming clash, Cádiz will be eager to turn the tide and recapture the form that saw them pose a significant challenge to Barcelona in the past
In their recent LaLiga encounters, Barcelona faced challenges during their visits to Cádiz, dropping points in two of their last three matches (Won1 Draw1 Lose1). This contrasts with their previous dominance, as they had only dropped points twice in their nine previous away games against Cádiz in the top-flight (Won7 Draw1 Lose1). As they prepare for their next fixture, Barcelona will be wary of Cádiz’s ability to pose a threat on their home turf and will aim to secure a positive result to maintain their momentum in the league
Barcelona’s LaLiga campaign has been impressive lately, as they remain unbeaten in their last nine matches (Won7 Draw2). Furthermore, they have kept clean sheets in each of their last five games, showcasing a formidable defensive resilience. The last time Barcelona achieved such a defensive feat was back in October 2022 when they won six consecutive matches without conceding a goal. As they strive to extend their unbeaten run, Barcelona will be eager to maintain their defensive solidity and secure another positive result in their upcoming fixtures
Xavi’s squad heads into the game on the heels of a thrilling 3-2 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Meanwhile, Cadiz secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Granada in their recent La Liga fixture.
Barcelona aims to extend their winning streak to six games across all competitions as they return to La Liga action against a Cadiz side battling relegation on Saturday night
Securing a win in this fixture holds significant importance for Xavi’s team, especially with the looming El Clasico showdown against Real Madrid on April 21. A positive result here is crucial if Barcelona is to keep their title hopes alive and set the stage for an intense battle in the final stretch of the season.
Despite facing challenges throughout the campaign, Barcelona remains optimistic about their chances, with hopes that Xavi will continue as head coach beyond the summer. With aspirations for success in both La Liga and the Champions League, Barcelona is determined to overcome their obstacles and contend for major silverware this season
Barcelona’s recent form has been impressive, highlighted by their thrilling 3-2 victory over PSG in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, positioning them favorably for a spot in the semi-finals.
Their undefeated streak in all competitions since late January underscores their resilience, with their last five matches culminating in victories. Among these wins, three were secured in La Liga, notably a commanding 3-0 triumph over Atletico Madrid in their recent away fixture in Spain’s top flight
Team news: Barcelona will have to manage without Gavi and Alejandro Balde, who continue to recover from long-term injuries. However, there’s good news as Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Andreas Christensen have returned from their respective injuries and are available for selection after featuring against PSGIn their absence, Hector Fort, Joao Felix, Ferran Torres, and Fermin Lopez are all potential candidates to fill in.
Xavi may opt to rotate the squad with one eye on the crucial return leg against PSG. However, Pedri is likely to play a role off the bench, with a potential start looming in the second leg against Luis Enrique’s side.
Christensen, despite being suspended for the second leg against PSG, is expected to start alongside Sergi Roberto, who is also returning from suspension. Barcelona will, unfortunately, miss the services of Inigo Martinez, Joao Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski due to suspension
In terms of team news, Cadiz will face Barcelona without four key players: Romingue Kouame, Maxi Gomez, Fede San Emeterio, and Luis Hernandez, who are sidelined due to various reasons.Against Granada, Alex Fernandez stepped in for Kouame, and with the Ivorian’s absence, Fernandez is expected to secure a spot in the starting XI for Saturday’s match