Two teams towards the wrong end of the La Liga table will lock horns at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Sunday afternoon, with 19th-placed Cadiz welcoming 16th-placed Espanyol.
Cadiz will enter the contest off the back of a respectable goalless draw with Villarreal last weekend, while Espanyol also picked up a point last time out courtesy of a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia.
Match preview
© Reuters
Cadiz punched above their weight on their return to La Liga in 2020-21, finishing 12th in the table, while they managed to secure a third straight season at this level by claiming 17th last term.
The Yellow Submarine were only one point ahead of the relegation zone at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, though, and the early indications are that it will be another tough season for the club.
Indeed, a record of one win, one draw and five defeats has brought them four points, which is only enough for 19th position in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.
Cadiz's four points have come in their last two matches, though, recording a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid before picking up a point in a goalless draw with Villarreal last weekend.
Sergio Gonzalez's side picked up one point from their two league games with Espanyol last term, with the points being shared in a 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture back in January.
© Reuters
Espanyol, meanwhile, were 14th in La Liga last season following their return from the Segunda Division, and the team will be looking to consolidate at this level once again.
The White and Blues actually finished seventh in Spain's top flight in 2018-19, but it has been a struggle in recent seasons, and it remains to be seen whether they are capable of pushing into the top half this term.
Espanyol have won one, drawn two and lost four of their seven league games this season to collect five points, which has left them in 16th, just one point ahead of Cadiz leading into this contest.
Diego Martinez's side lost back-to-back games against Sevilla and Real Sociedad in the middle of September but managed to pick up a point in a 2-2 draw with Valencia at home last weekend.
The Catalan outfit were on the verge of securing all three points against Los Che, with Sergi Darder sending them 2-1 ahead in the 83rd minute, but Eray Comert came up with a 96th-minute leveller for the visitors.
Team News
© Reuters
Cadiz will again be missing Jon Ander Garrido due to a knee injury, while Momo Mbaye remains a doubt for the home side this weekend.
The Yellow Submarine will also be missing Isaac Carcelen due to the red card that he picked up in the latter stages of the clash with Villarreal last time out.
Carcelen's absence should open the door for Joseba Zaldua to start at right-back, but Alvaro Negredo should retain his spot at centre-forward despite the competition for spots in that area of the field.
Espanyol, meanwhile, will be without Adria Pedrosa due to a groin injury, while Jose Carlos Lazo and Oscar Gil are fitness doubts for the visitors here.
Martinez's side also have a player missing through suspension, with Martin Braithwaite picking up a red card in the final exchanges of the clash with Valencia.
Omar El Hilali could come into the starting side on Sunday, while a slight change of formation could see Javi Puado moved into a front two with Joselu.
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Zaldua, Hernandez, Chust, Espino; Fernandez, Emeterio; Alejo, Sobrino, Bongonda; Negredo
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Calero, Cabrera, Gomez; Hilali, Darder, Exposito, Souza, Olivan; Joselu, Puado
We say: Cadiz 1-1 Espanyol
Cadiz will have been encouraged by their last two results, and they will now take on an Espanyol side that have won just once in the league this season. Both teams will view this as a winnable fixture, but we are finding it difficult to separate them and have therefore settled on a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
