Barcelona Aims for First Win of 2023-24 La Liga Season Against Cadiz

Barcelona will be aiming to secure their inaugural victory in the 2023-24 La Liga season as they prepare to host Cadiz at Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

Following a goalless draw with Getafe in their season opener last weekend, the Catalan team is seeking to bounce back. Meanwhile, Cadiz kicked off their campaign on a positive note, clinching a 1-0 victory against Alaves on their home turf.

Match preview

Barcelona asserted their dominance as Spain’s top-tier champions last season, clinching the title with four games to spare and maintaining a comfortable 10-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.

Nonetheless, their pursuit of defending the title began with a lackluster goalless draw against Getafe in the opening fixture. The club has faced undeniable challenges during this transfer window. Influential figures like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba departed on free transfers, while Ousmane Dembele’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain has left Barcelona short in the attacking department. The club’s signings, Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan, have primarily strengthened the midfield.

Securing a victory on Sunday would undoubtedly uplift the spirits within the club. However, further dropped points could spark uncertainty, possibly placing pressure on manager Xavi if the team struggles to find their stride this season.

In recent history, Barcelona has won just two of their last six encounters with Cadiz in La Liga, both of which occurred in the previous campaign. Despite this, they exhibited excellence at Camp Nou during the 2022-23 season, amassing 48 points from 19 home league matches.

Cadiz, on the other hand, began their campaign with a triumphant start, securing a three-point victory against Alaves on Monday evening. Fede San Emeterio found the net in the seventh minute to seal the lone goal of the match.

Under Sergio Gonzalez’s guidance, Cadiz secured a 14th-place finish in La Liga last season, battling to retain their position until the final matchday. This marks their fourth consecutive season competing at this level, showcasing their best streak since the early 1990s.

During the current summer transfer window, Cadiz has been active in the market. Permanent signings include Gonzalo Escalante and Sergi Guardiola, who arrived following successful loan spells. Additionally, the club has welcomed new additions like Darwin Machis and Javi Hernandez.

In the previous season, Cadiz struggled on their travels, gathering only 15 points from 19 away league matches. Improving their performance on the road will be crucial in their efforts to avoid being entangled in the relegation battle throughout the 2023-24 campaign.

Cadiz has a notable history of winning at Camp Nou. In a memorable match during the 2021-22 season, they achieved a 1-0 victory against Barcelona in the iconic stadium.

Team News

Barcelona will have to navigate without Ronald Araujo for the next month due to a thigh issue, while Inigo Martinez remains unavailable as he recovers from a foot injury.

There’s a potential inclusion of Sergi Roberto at right-back and Abde Ezzalzouli could make a start, taking Raphinha’s spot who is suspended following his red card against Getafe last weekend.

Ezzalzouli might team up with Gavi and Robert Lewandowski in the attacking third, and despite being subbed off in the team’s first game, Andreas Christensen is fit to start.

On the Cadiz side, Escalante’s suspension rules him out, stemming from his red card after coming off the bench against Alaves. Brian Ocampo, Guardiola, and Victor Chust will also be sidelined due to injuries.

Given the previous performance against Alaves, Sergio could opt for the same lineup, having Roger and Chris Ramos lead the attack.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Roberto, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, De Jong, Gundogan; Ezzalzouli, Lewandowski, Gavi

Cadiz possible starting lineup:

Ledesma; Carcelen, Fali, L Hernandez, J Hernandez; Alejo, Emeterio, Alcaraz, Machis; Ramos, Roger