La Liga outfit Leganes will be aiming to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they take on Segunda Division outfit Cartagena in the competition on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors suffered a 5-2 defeat to Villarreal in their last top-flight match ahead of the winter break in Spain, while Cartagena will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with Albacete in the second tier.
Match preview
Cartagena have beaten Beasain and FC Andorra in their opening two matches of the 2024-25 Copa del Rey, and they will now have their eyes on a position in the final 16 of the competition.
Jandro Castro's side suffered two heavy away defeats to Castellon and Granada in the league in the middle of December, but they entered the winter break in Spain off the back of a 0-0 draw with Albacete.
Cartagena have struggled in the second tier this season, only picking up 14 points from 21 matches, which has left them in 21st spot in the Segunda Division table.
The Copa del Rey is a welcome distraction at this moment in time, and the fact that their next league game is not until January 11 should mean that head coach Castro is able to select a strong side for the clash against their La Liga opponents.
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Leganes, meanwhile, suffered a 5-2 defeat to Villarreal last time out in La Liga, which was a huge disappointing considering that they had entered that clash off the back of a 1-0 victory away to Barcelona.
A total of 18 points from 18 matches has left Borja Jimenez's side in 15th spot in the La Liga table, three points clear of the relegation zone, and a lot of positives can be taken from their campaign to date.
El Lega are the reigning Segunda Division champions, and they are aiming to make it successive seasons in the top flight for the first time since 2020, which was also the last time that they made it past the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey.
Leganes beat Cuidad de Lucena in the first round of the Copa del Rey at the end of October before needing penalties to beat Estepona in round two after the two teams had played out a 2-2 draw.
Jimenez's side have a huge league game away to Espanyol on January 11, but they will be determined to avoid what would be a surprise elimination from the Spanish Cup this weekend.
Team News
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Luis Munoz has been Cartagena's main source of goals this season, scoring four times in 21 appearances, and there will be a spot in the starting side for the 27-year-old this weekend.
Gaston Valles is the second-highest goalscorer this term with three, and he is likely to lead the line, while there should also be a spot in midfield for Sergio Guerrero, who arrived from Atletico Madrid last summer.
As for Leganes, Enric Franquesa is out of the contest due to a muscular problem, while Renato Tapia is also unlikely to feature.
Head coach Jimenez is expected to ring the changes for the game against Cartagena, with Iker Bachiller, Juan Soriano, Roberto Lopez, Munir El Haddadi, Sebastien Haller and Julian Chicco set to be among those to come into the XI.
Seydouba Cisse was on the scoresheet against Villarreal before the winter break, and the 23-year-old is likely to keep his spot, while there should also again be a position at right-back for Adria Alti.
Cartagena possible starting lineup:
Cunat; Moreno, Alcala, Sipcic, Reina; Musto; Roman, Guerrero, Munoz, Gonzalez; Valles
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Soriano; Alti, Porozo, Saenz, Bachiller; Cruz, Chicco, Cisse, El Haddadi; Lopez, Haller
We say: Cartagena 1-2 Leganes
Cartagena are capable of making this a tough match for Leganes, who have not convinced in the competition this season. However, we are expecting the La Liga outfit to navigate their way into the last-16 stage of the tournament.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
