Preview: Alaves vs. Cadiz - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors have struggled this season, sitting 18th in the table, boasting only 15 points from their 20 matches, while Alaves are up in 13th, collecting 20 points from their opening 20 games of 2023-24.

Match preview

Alaves secured a return to La Liga through last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so any position above 18th this term would be considered a success, with the team looking to consolidate back at this level.

The Blue and Whites were knocked out of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday evening, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, but they have picked up four points from their last two league games, drawing 1-1 with Real Sociedad before beating Sevilla 3-2 at Estadio Ramon last time out.

Ruben Duarte came up with a 90th-minute winner for Alaves in Seville, and the result moved them up into 13th position in the La Liga table, five points ahead of their opponents on Friday night.

Luis Garcia's side are only actually three points behind 11th-placed Rayo Vallecano, while a relatively solid home record this season has seen them pick up 13 points from nine matches.

Alaves have lost their last two La Liga matches with Cadiz, though, including a 1-0 defeat when the two teams locked horns in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Cadiz also won 1-0 at Alaves during the 2021-22 La Liga campaign, but the Yellow Submarine are finding it incredibly difficult to pick up victories this season.

Sergio Gonzalez's side have won just twice in La Liga this term, with a total of 15 points from 20 matches leaving them in 18th position in the table heading into Friday's contest.

Cadiz have not managed to triumph in Spain's top flight since a 3-1 success over Villarreal on September 1, which is a run of 16 games without collecting maximum points in the league.

The visitors actually drew five straight games between November 29 and December 21, but they will enter this match off the back of successive defeats, going down 2-0 at Granada on January 3 before suffering a 4-1 home reverse to Valencia last time out.

Cadiz have the third-worst away record in the league this season, picking up just four points from 10 matches, while they have only found the back of the net on 15 occasions, which is the worst attacking record in the division.

Alaves La Liga form:

D

L

L

L

D

W

Alaves form (all competitions):

L

L

D

W

W

L

Cadiz La Liga form:

D

D

D

D

L

L

Cadiz form (all competitions):

L

D

D

D

L

L

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Team News

Alaves will again be without the services of Aleksandar Sedlar due to a long-term knee injury, while Jesus Owono and Abdel Abqar are currently in action at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Head coach Garcia could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla in the league last time out, with Kike Garcia getting the nod over Samu Omorodion at centre-forward.

There were changes against Athletic in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, but Jon Guridi, Rafa Marin, Andoni Gorosabel, Luis Rioja and Javi Lopez will be among those to return for this match.

As for Cadiz, Darwin Machis, Fede San Emeterio and Roger Marti are both on the sidelines through injury, while Ruben Sobrino, Javi Hernandez and Ruben Alcaraz are out of the contest due to suspensions.

There will have to be at least three changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Valencia due to the absences of Javi Hernandez, San Emeterio and Alcaraz, with Joseba Zaldua, Gonzalo Escalante and Alex Fernandez set to come into the side.

Chris Ramos has scored five times in La Liga this season, and the 27-year-old is again expected to be given the nod at centre-forward, leaving the likes of Sergi Guardiola and Maxi Gomez on the bench.

Alaves possible starting lineup:

Sivera; Gorosabel, Tenaglia, Marin, J Lopez; Benavidez, Guevara; Vicente, Guridi, Rioja; Kike

Cadiz possible starting lineup:

Ledesma; Carcelen, L Hernandez, Fali, Zaldua; Alejo, Kouame, Alex, Escalante, Navarro; Ramos

We say: Alaves 1-0 Cadiz

Alaves have been impressive in their last two league matches, and we are backing the home side to pick up another positive result here. It would not be a surprise to see a draw, as Cadiz have shared the points in nine of their 20 league matches this season, but Alaves should have enough to shade this contest.

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