Real Madrid will be aiming to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they resume their domestic campaign away to Cadiz on Saturday night.
Los Blancos suffered a 3-2 loss to Villarreal in La Liga last weekend and have now dropped 13 points behind division leaders Barcelona in the table with 10 games left, while Cadiz occupy 14th, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Cadiz picked up a morale-boosting three points away to top-four challengers Real Betis last weekend, with Ruben Alcaraz making the breakthrough from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute before Chris Ramos doubled the away side's advantage six minutes later.
The result moved the Yellow Submarine into 14th position in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone, and they will be bidding to record their eighth league victory of the campaign this weekend.
Sergio Gonzalez's side have the third-worst home record in La Liga this season, picking up only 18 points from 14 matches, but they held Los Blancos to a 1-1 draw in the corresponding clash last term.
Cadiz, who famously beat Real Madrid 1-0 at Bernabeu in October 2020, are in their third straight campaign at this level of football, which is their best run since the early 1990s.
There will be plenty of twists and turns in the coming weeks when it comes to the relegation battle, but a positive result in this contest would lead them nicely into a huge game away to Espanyol next Friday.
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Real Madrid, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night.
Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio scored the goals for Carlo Ancelotti's side, who are now in a commanding position when it comes to reaching the semi-finals, while the team are also chasing Copa del Rey success this term, with Osasuna their opponents in the final of the competition next month.
Only a miracle will allow Real Madrid back into the La Liga title race, though, as they are currently 13 points behind leaders Barcelona, who have 72 points from their 28 matches.
Los Blancos remain second in the table but are now just two points clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid following their 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal last weekend, with Samuel Chukwueze's second of the match in the 80th minute providing to be the difference between the two sides.
Ancelotti's side have only won two of their last six league matches, which has seen them fall away in terms of the title race, and a number of key players could again be rested for this game, with the second leg of their quarter-final with Chelsea set to take place next week.
Real Madrid have the third-best away record in the league this season, but four of their five La Liga losses in 2022-23 have come on their travels, which should hand Cadiz confidence.
Team News
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Cadiz again will be missing Gonzalo Escalante and Brian Ocampo through injury, while Juan Cala, Jon Ander Garrido and Joseba Zaldua remain major doubts due to fitness issues.
The home side will also again be without goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma through suspension, which will see David Gil continue between the sticks for the Yellow Submarine.
Due to the impressive performance against Real Betis, it would not be a surprise to see the same starting XI for this match, with Sergi Guardiola potentially being joined by Chris Ramos in a front two.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, only have one first-team injury at this moment in time, with a calf problem currently preventing Ferland Mendy from being available for selection.
The Spanish and European champions have not reported any fresh issues from their clash with Chelsea, but there are expected to be wholesale changes to their XI for this match.
Lucas Vazquez, Antonio Rudiger, Asensio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Nacho and Dani Ceballos could all come into the side, with Eder Militao, Benzema, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Federico Valverde potentially being rested ahead of the contest with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Gil; Carcelen, Hernandez, Fali, Espino; Bongonda, Fede, Alcaraz, Sobrino; Guardiola, Ramos
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Nacho; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Ceballos; Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinicius
We say: Cadiz 1-2 Real Madrid
Cadiz will certainly be the fresher of the two sides, while Real Madrid are expected to rest a number of important players, but we still believe that the reigning champions will be able to navigate their way to all three points in Saturday's contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
