Cadiz vs Barcelona

High-flying La Liga runners-up Barcelona and rock-bottom Cadiz are set to trade tackles at the Spotify Camp Nou in contrasting circumstances.

Cadiz avoided the drop last season by the skin of their teeth, finishing one point clear of the relegation zone, but they may run out of luck this term. Sergio Gonzalez’s men have experienced their worst-ever start to a new La Liga season after losing their opening four league matches via an aggregate score of 10-0. Indeed, ‘Los Piratas’ come into proceedings as the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to find the net this season despite attempting 32 shots on goal across the first four rounds. Despite all the troubles and sub-par performances, Cadiz seem to have jinxed Barcelona somehow, going unbeaten in their last four La Liga H2Hs (W2, D2). That could be the only saving grace for Catalan-born manager Gonzalez, who has lost eight of his nine La Liga meetings with Barca (W1).

In the meantime, after suffering their first Champions League group stage exit and not forming part of the La Liga title race last season, a new-look Barcelona have enjoyed a stellar start to the 2022/23 campaign. Since an underwhelming scoreless home draw with Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend, Xavi Hernandez’s men have strung together three consecutive La Liga wins via an aggregate score of 11-1, netting 3+ goals on each occasion. Standout forward Robert Lewandowski bagged a hat-trick to inspire the ‘Blaugrana’ to an overwhelming 5-1 Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen in midweek, setting the pulse for Barcelona’s bid to defy their ‘Cadiz hoodoo.’ In addition to boasting one of Europe’s deadliest strikers, Barca have a rock-solid backline that has faced a league-low 31 shots this season.