Atletico Madrid will be bidding to strengthen their grip on a top-four position in the La Liga table when they head to relegation-threatened Cadiz on Saturday afternoon.
Diego Simeone's side are fourth in the division, five points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, while Cadiz sit in 18th position, five points behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo.
Match preview
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Cadiz are still very much in the fight when it comes to the battle for survival in Spain's top flight, but the Yellow Submarine will be wary of the gap to 17th position becoming any bigger at this stage of the campaign.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a difficult season for the club, with a record of two wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats from 27 matches bringing them 19 points, which is only enough for 18th position, five points behind 17th-placed Celta with 11 games left to play.
Mauricio Pellegrino's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano; Florian Lejeune's 78th-minute effort looked to have secured all three points for the capital team, only for Javi Hernandez to come up with a leveller in the 91st minute.
The Andalusian outfit, who have not won in La Liga since the start of September, have picked up 13 of their 19 points this season at home, suffering just four losses in front of their own supporters in 2023-24.
Cadiz also beat Atletico 3-2 in the corresponding fixture between the two sides last season, but Simeone's team ran out 3-2 winners when they locked horns at Wanda Metropolitano back in October.
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Atletico suffered huge disappointment in the Copa del Rey at the end of last month, losing 4-0 on aggregate to Athletic in the semi-finals, while they also have work to do in their last-16 Champions League clash, trailing Inter Milan 1-0 ahead of the second leg next week.
The Red and Whites managed to bounce back impressively in the league last weekend, though, beating Real Betis 2-1 at Wanda Metropolitano to move onto 55 points from 27 La Liga matches this term.
Atletico are fourth in the table, five points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic, while they are only three points from third-placed Barcelona and four from second-placed Girona.
Simeone's side are 11 points behind league leaders Real Madrid, so a title challenge is highly unlikely at this stage, but they will have their eyes on second position in the table.
Atletico have the best home record in La Liga this season, but their form on the road has been patchy at best, only picking up 15 points from 13 matches, recording just four wins in the process, while all six of their league defeats this season have come on their travels.
Team News
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Cadiz will be missing four players through injury on Saturday, with Fali, Fede San Emeterio, Luis Hernandez and Roger Marti unavailable for selection.
Joseba Zaldua and Jose Mari will also face late fitness tests, but the Yellow Submarine did not pick up any fresh injury and suspension issues in their match with Rayo last time out.
Head coach Pellegrino could make just the one change from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Inigo Perez's side, with Sergi Guardiola potentially being introduced in the final third.
As for Atletico, Antoine Griezmann, Jose Gimenez, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thomas Lemar will miss out this weekend due to injury problems, while Pablo Barrios will require a late fitness test on a muscular issue.
Head coach Simeone could potentially make two changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Betis, with Saul Niguez on standby to replace Barrios.
Meanwhile, Angel Correa, who was an unused substitute last time out, could be introduced in the final third alongside Alvaro Morata, with Memphis Depay potentially dropping down to the bench.
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Carcelen, Mere, Chust, J Hernandez; Sobrino, Alcaraz, Kouame, Navarro; Juanmi, Guardiola
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Witsel, Gabriel, Hermoso; Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Saul, Lino; Morata, Correa
We say: Cadiz 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico's away form this season has been disappointing, but they will fancy their chances of beating their relegation-threatened opponents on Saturday. Cadiz have drawn a league-high 13 games this term, but we are expecting Simeone's side to navigate their way to all three points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
