Real Madrid will continue their La Liga title defence this Thursday when they welcome Cadiz to Santiago Bernabeu for the 14th game of the 2022/23 La Liga season.
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)
Key Statistics
Real Madrid are unbeaten at home in their last ten league games (W7, D3).
They haven’t lost a La Liga game on a Thursday since December 1995 (W12, D2).
The hosts have scored 2+ goals in ten of their last 13 matches this season.
Madrid are winless in their last two home games against Cadiz (D1, L1).
Cádiz failed to score in eight of their 13 league matches this season.
The visitors have conceded 2+ goals in seven of their last 13 matches this season.
Cádiz have failed to win any of their last three away matches (D2, L1).
Head to head
Real Madrid have a good record against Cadiz, having won five out of the last nine matches played between the two teams. Cadiz have three victories in that period.
However, Real Madrid have won only one of their last four games against Cadiz against La Liga and have played out two draws against the away side under Carlo Ancelotti.
Latest performances in all competitions
Real Madrid: L-W-D-L-W
Cadiz: D-W-L-D-D
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their first La Liga loss of the season when they host the bogey team, Cadiz.
The hosts suffered their first league win of the season when they were beaten 3-2 by near neighbours Rayo Vallecano away from home last time out. The loss was their second in their last four games, following a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League two weeks back.
That form shows that something is wrong with Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Having won just one of their last four competitive games (D1, L2), the manager admitted his side are “tired” after playing “too many games”.
Yet, with Barcelona having moved ahead of them in the La Liga title race, Los Blancos will be motivated to win this to keep themselves close to the top ahead of the World Cup break.
However, the fact that they haven’t beaten Cádiz at Santiago Bernabeu in two attempts (D1, L1) might trouble them again. But they are unbeaten at home in the league (W7, D3) and will fancy their chances here.
Possible Real Madrid starting line-up
Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Luka Modric; Marco Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior.
Injured: Karim Benzema
Doubtful: Antonio Rudiger
Suspended: None
Cadiz
For Cadiz, it will be about keeping the momentum going ahead of the break and continuing their impressive record against the hosts.
The visitors were in a similar position to now, when they headed to the Bernabeu last December, scraping to get out of the relegation zone. So they will feel that a repeat of that 0-0 draw is possible here especially as they have recorded one defeat in their last eight league games (W2, D5).
And so they should be full of belief ahead of this game, and they’ll now be looking to finish this part of the campaign on a high after their 0-0 draw at Getafe last time out.
The visitors ought to be fresher than their hosts after an extra couple of days rest and are becoming used to travelling to these parts as their previous league away game was against Rayo (L 5-1), a game which incredibly saw three red cards handed out.
With discipline important, if they’re to get a result here, no team had accrued more La Liga dismissals on the road than the Pirates’ having gotten four this term after matchday 13.
Possible Cadiz starting line-up
Jeremias Ledesma; Carcelen Valencia, Santiago Arzamendia, Cala, Alfonso Espino; Theo Bongonda, Fede San Emeterio, Álex Fernández, Brian Ocampos; Ruben Sobrino, Anthony Lozano.
Injured: Victor Chust, Fali, Momo Manage, Jon Ander Garrido, Joseba Zaldúa
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Luis Hernandez
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Cadiz
