Girona – Cadiz CF : Preview & Prediction
Girona became only the fourth club in this season’s LaLiga Santander (LL) to lose three consecutive games, although they did so by selling their defeat to Atlético Madrid (ATM 2-1 GIR), partly restoring the aggression that coach Míchel had called for after conceding five goals to Real Sociedad. Girona’s three defeats have all come against teams in one of the top six at the start of the season, and Saturday’s clash against Cádiz should show more precisely where the Girona side really stand in the first quarter of the season.
Míchel took responsibility for the latest defeat from a tactical point of view at the helm of a Girona side who have scored for the fifth consecutive game (G1, E1, P3), but have yet to keep a clean sheet so far this term (1.75 goals conceded p. p.). Having conceded exactly one goal in each of LL’s five matches prior to three consecutive defeats to powerful opponents, Girona should be confident of putting in a better defensive performance, as they did in their last two home matches against Cadiz (G 2-0 and 2-1).
Despite starting matchday nine in the relegation zone and recording their worst numbers after eight games since returning to the Primera in 2020 (5/24 pts – G1, E2, P5), Cádiz seem to have found the path to recovery. The Yellows are on a three-game point streak (G1, E2) – their longest unbeaten run in LL since February-March 2022 – a run that has seen them take on two clubs in the bottom half of the table after matchday eight, as well as Girona. There is cause for optimism in Sergio González’s side, who declared after a 2-2 draw with Espanyol last Sunday that “the team continues to take steps forward”.
With a 1-0 win away to Valladolid on matchday six, Cadiz have now taken more points on the road than at home for the third successive campaign, indicating that the ‘nothing to lose’ mentality that often prevails on the road continues to be the order of the day for the Yellows. Achieving a better balance between their results at the Nuevo Mirandilla and those away from home is an unfinished task for this Cadiz side.
Players to watch: Rodrigo Riquelme, who has been on target for two games, is the only Girona player to have opened his side’s scoring account twice in the current campaign. Midfielder Álex Fernández has yet to score for Cádiz this season, but his goal reduced the deficit on the Yellows’ last league visit to Montilivi (GIR 2-1 CAD).
Weekend stat: seven of Girona’s eight games in LL 2022-23 have ended in victory for the team with fancied status (G7, E1).
Girona – Cadiz CF : Betting Tips
Girona – Win Odds: 1.85
