Preview: Cadiz vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams that have had underwhelming La Liga campaigns to date will lock horns at Nuevo Mirandilla on Sunday evening, with Cadiz welcoming Osasuna.

The home side have only picked up 12 points from their 15 league matches this season, which has left them in 16th spot in the table, while an underperforming Osasuna sit 14th in the division on 15 points.

Match preview

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Cadiz are in their fourth straight season at this level of football, meaning that it is their best period in terms of successive La Liga campaigns since the early 1990s.

El Submarino Amarillo are seemingly facing a big battle to stay in the division this season, though, as a record of two wins, six draws and seven defeats from 15 matches has left them in 16th spot in the table on 12 points.

Cadiz are only three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the next set of fixtures, and their recent form has been disappointing, failing to triumph in La Liga since the start of September.

Sergio Gonzalez's side have actually drawn their last two in the league against Mallorca and Celta Vigo, which are neither particularly positive nor negative results, with all three teams struggling this season.

Cadiz will enter this match off the back of a defeat, though, suffering a 2-1 reverse to fourth-tier outfit Arandina in the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening, with their journey in this season's competition already coming to an end.

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Osasuna, meanwhile, have also drawn two of their last three in the league, sharing the points with Las Palmas and Real Sociedad either side of a 3-1 defeat at Villarreal.

Jagoba Arrasate's side finished seventh in Spain's top flight last season, in addition to reaching the final of the Copa del Rey, but their form this term has been largely disappointing, picking up only 15 points from 15 league matches, which has left them in 14th position in the table.

Only the bottom two - Granada (10) and Almeria (11) - have lost more league games than Osasuna (eight) this term, while they are without a victory in Spain's top flight since October 20 against Granada.

There is still an awful lot of football to be played this season, but Los Rojillos look some way short of being able to push for a potential European position in the table this term.

Osasuna were victorious in both league meetings with Cadiz last season, including a 1-0 win in the corresponding contest at Nuevo Mirandilla, but Arrasate's side have lost their last three La Liga matches on their travels, conceding nine times in the process.

Team News

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Cadiz will be without the services of four players through injury, as Gonzalo Escalante, Romingue Kouame, Luis Hernandez and Fede San Emeterio are unavailable for selection.

The hosts will also have to work around the absence of Victor Chust, with the defender serving a suspension due to the red card that he was issued in the first half of the clash with Celta on Monday.

Jorge Mere could be introduced in the middle of the defence, while Chris Ramos is expected to retain his spot in the final third of the field following his goal against Celta, with Alvaro Negredo and Sergi Guardiola set to drop out after being given starts in the Copa del Rey.

As for Osasuna, Ruben Pena, Kike Barja and Darko Brasanac are out of the match through injury, while Alejandro Catena is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up against Real Sociedad.

Head coach Arrasate would have been pleased with the performance last time out, so it is expected to be largely the same side for this game, with perhaps Jorge Herrando for Catena the only alteration.

There are plenty of options for change in the final third of the field, with Ezequiel Avila and Raul Garcia pushing to be included in the first XI, but Ante Budimir is again expected to be joined by Ruben Garcia in attack.

Cadiz possible starting lineup:

Gil; Carcelen, Fali, Mere, J Hernandez; Alejo, Fernandez, Alcaraz, Sobrino; Ramos, Roger

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Areso, D Garcia, Cruz, Herrando, Mojica; Oroz, Torro, M Gomez; R Garcia, Budimir

We say: Cadiz 1-1 Osasuna

It is difficult to back either side with any real confidence at the moment considering their results. A point each would not be the end of the world for either manager under the circumstances, and we are expecting a tight and cagey match on Sunday to finish in a low-scoring draw.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.