Having already confirmed a place in the top six of the Spanish Segunda Division table, Tenerife will take on Cartagena in the final game of the regular season before entering the playoffs.

The hosts enter the contest having suffered back-to-back defeats and will aim to correct their form, while their visitors have sealed a top-half finish thanks to a victory last time out.

Match preview

Following a strong season in Spain's second tier, Tenerife all but sealed a place in the playoffs thanks to an impressive run of form between early April and mid-May, in which they won four of five matches and drew the other.

The one stalemate was followed by back-to-back triumphs, setting the Chicharreros up to confirm a top-six finish, but they had to wait after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Malaga.

Luis Miguel Ramis's side then took on league leaders Eibar away from home last time out, and they were again beaten by two goals to nil as Stoichkov and Chema found the net to condemn them to a second straight loss.

Nonetheless, Real Oviedo's defeat last weekend meant that Tenerife are now guaranteed a playoff place, and they remain fourth in the second tier with 69 points from 41 outings.

With the top two sides in the playoffs having the benefit of a second leg at home in the semi-finals, Ramis's men will be keen to finish the regular campaign with a win to cement their current position and rebuild momentum ahead of the upcoming fight for promotion to La Liga.

They welcome a Cartagena side hoping to end on a high after an impressive campaign, in which they cemented themselves as a top-half side.

After back-to-back victories over already-relegated Alcorcon and playoff-bound Girona, Luis Carrion's team were brought back down to earth by a 4-2 defeat away at Ponferradina, before playing out consecutive draws against Leganes and Burgos.

Looking to confirm a top-half finish, they hosted Amorebieta last time out and cruised to an eye-catching 5-0 victory with Ruben Castro hitting a hat-trick alongside goals from Yann Bodiger and Alex Gallar.

Now sitting ninth with no chance of climbing further, Cartagena will look to keep hold of their place in the top 10 and finish with an impressive result away at Tenerife.

Team News

Tenerife will likely remain without midfielder Pablo Larrea, who has been sidelined by a knee injury.

Attacker Elady Zorrilla will be pushing for a return to the starting XI, having netted a team-high tally of 11 league goals this season.

Alex Corredera has been a relative mainstay in midfield, making 40 league appearances this term, and he could again partner Sergio Gonzalez in the engine room.

Cartagena marksman Ruben Castro will come into Sunday's game full of confidence, having taken his tally to 20 goals for the season in the second tier with a hat-trick in their 5-0 win last time out.

Their starting XI is unlikely to be changed from that impressive performance, with Alex Gallar offering further threat going forward and Yann Bodiger lining up alongside Pablo de Blasis and Richard Boateng in a midfield trio.

Tenerife possible starting lineup:
Soriano; Moore, Sipcic, Leon, Pomares; Mollejo, Corredera, Gonzalez, Diez; Gallego, Zorrilla

Cartagena possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Delmas, Vazquez, Datkovic, De La Bella; Boateng, Bodiger, De Blasis; Gallar, Castro, Gil

We say: Tenerife 2-1 Cartagena

Cartagena will come into the game with freedom and a renewed sense of confidence thanks to last weekend's result, while Tenerife seem to be in an ebb following the confirmation of their playoff place, making Sunday's meeting an interesting contest.

However, we do see the hosts finding their groove again with the aim of heading into the fight for promotion on the back of a victory, thanks to the quality throughout their squad that has shown over the course of the campaign.

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

Written by
Sam Varley

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