Cádiz 0-2 Real Madrid: summary, score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2022/23

Cadiz 0-2 Real Madrid

Good news all night for Real Madrid.

They secured maximum points that keeps any faint hopes alive of catching FC Barcelona should the Catalan side wobble.

No players picked up any worrying knocks with then second leg of the Champions League coming up next Tuesday in London as they take a 2-0 lead to Chelsea.

And finally, Eden Hazard got a rare run-out and the Belgian looked competent in the handful of minutes that came his way.

David Gil was the hero of the night for Cadiz and thanks to a series of fine stops, the 29-year-old goalkeeper kept the home side in the game after Benzema and Espino both rocked the woodwork in a tightly fought first 45'.

The second half was a different affair as Madrid stepped up a gear and offered too much for Cadiz. Rodrygo, Benzema, Asensio and Ceballos were dominant but the goal came from defender Nacho who drilled home from outside the box to put Ancelotti's side in pole position. 

Asensio made it two with 15 minutes remaining and once again it was the trusty left boot that did the damage as he slotted calmly home past Gil.

Cadiz huffed and puffed and despite a brief, late rally, the men in yellow rarely troubled Courtois who has a more than placid second half.

The whistle sounds in Cadiz and Madrid secure maximum points .....

Nacho and Asensio on target for the visitors who keep their (very) outside hopes alive of catching FC Barcelona.

Madrid march on and bring the difference at the top back to ten points with Barcelona in action tomorrow as they travel to Getafe.

Four minutes of time to be added.

Modric almost makes it three as he clips a dangerous ball into the box with the outside of the boot.

Into the final minute of the contest and the three points are destined to head back to the capital.

No injury worries which will be the best news for Madridistas with the Chelsea game looming on Tuesday.

Cadiz break again and the men in yellow certainly look tired as it's more heart than head as the clock ticks towards the 90 minute mark.

There has been a late rally from Cadiz now as they look for consolation goal in the final minutes of the contest.

Great work from Cadiz, with the final pass the let-down. 

Negredo has a great chance to pull one back but blazes over

Real Madrid substitutions:

Modric/Hazard on for Rodrygo and Valverde.

Just the third time all year we've seen the Belgian.

Modric and Hazard (remember him) ready to make an entrance!

Cadiz have been totally outplayed in the second 45.

Negredo takes the place of Ramos but there has only been one team in this second 45'.

Cadiz 0-2 Real Madrid

Once again, the trusty left foot of Asensio as he strokes the ball deftly into the corner of David Gil's net...

All under the watching eyes of Spain boss Luis de la Fuente.

Gooooool

Asensio doubles Real Madrid's lead

Real Madrid now ten points behind Barcelona !

Less than 20' remain in Cadiz.

Tchouaméni (who has been discreet tonight) shoots and his effort is deflected for yet another corner for the visiting side.

Cadiz changes:

Alex, Roger and Alejo all on

Fede, Sobrino and Sergi all making way

Tiredness kicking in now as the tempo of the action drops slightly.

Cadiz too poised to make more changes with three substitutes ready to make an entrance. 

Change for Madrid. Camavinga on for Lucas

Benzema rocks the post again and Cadiz are on the ropes now.

Past the hour mark and Real Madrid are edging towards an opening goal.

A final last minute ball, a little more composure in front of goal and the exploits of David Gil all instrumental in maintaining the scoreline at 0-0.

Madrid probe again and, yet again David Gil is on hand to clear the danger after Benzema drills the ball across the face of the Cadiz box.

How on earth did Rodrygo miss that?

Valverde puts the ball on a plate for the Brazilian and the striker opens his body and slots the ball wide. 

A bad, bad, bad miss !

Jorge Mere on and Parra off for Cadiz. First switch of the night

Wonderful strike from Alcaraz but Courtois is level to the danger and saves well.

Shots:
Cadiz 2-16 Real Madrid

Rodrygo is free and just has to round the keeper but, yet again, Gil does well and saves his side. 

Not the same noise levels that we experienced at the start of the contest. 

19,833 the official attendance for tonight's game. A little short of the full capacity.

Cadiz to start the second 45'

A draw would momentarily lift Cadiz up to 14th spot on 32 points.

Madrid would remain in second place with 60 points.

The teams start to make their way back to the pitch.

The half ends and no goals so far in Cadiz after a bright 45' of action. Benzema has gone close for Real Madrid with the French striker hitting the bar. 

Earlier in the half Espino beat Courtois but watched on as his shot struck the post.

We'll have one minute of added time.

Final minute of the half and it's been a bright game with the contest very much alive.

David Gil has been the hero for Cadiz and Rodrygo and Ceballos looking sharp for Madrid.

David Gil again as he palms over a great Ceballos volley. 

The 29-year-old stopper has been the hero for the Gaditanos tonight so far.

Once again, Madrid go close as Rodrygo and Benzema work a fine one-two on the edge of the box and there again is David Gil who stands form to repel the shot.

Espino finds Bongonda and the Cadiz man overhits the ball and it falls into Courtois' arms.

Great work from Rodrygo as he finds Ceballos who forces Gil to spill the ball to Benzema and the French striker hits the ball upwards and off the bar with the goal gaping.

Benzema crashes the ball off the bar.

The home fams find their voice again and up the energy level with the game very much in the balance.

Alcaraz and Ceballos clash again and this time the Cadiz man is carded as he clips the Sevilla born player.

Ceballos and Alcaraz collide and the Cadiz man comes off worse as Madrid win the freekick.

Approaching the half hour mark and both sides have created danger.

Third corner of the night for Madrid. The move breaks down and Cadiz win a corner (their first of the night). The ball falls to Ramos and the former Lugo man makes a mess and drills the ball wide.

Looking back on that Benzema effort, there is a strong argument for a spot kick for Madrid as Espino grabs Benzema just as the French striker was poised to pull the trigger.

Benzema almost makes it 0-1 as Madrid work the ball well with some intricate passes on the edge of the box, the Frenchman looks to find the corner but Gil does well and saves with his feet.

Real Madrid well on top possession wise as Gil does well in saving his side from a ferocious Asensio strike.

Quarter of an hour gone and that early impetus from Real Madrid has abated somewhat. Cadiz now well back in the contest and the side that have gone closest to scoring with that Pacha Espino effort.

Espino drives a fine shot off the post. Courtois well beaten and a fine strike from the Uruguayan. 

A let-off there for Real Madrid.

Valverde strikes and a few timid whistles ring out aimed at the Uruguayan after the incident with Villarreal's Baena last Saturday.

Cadiz unable to get the ball under control as Madrid dominate possession ...

Asensio does well and drills in a dangerous ball which Fali has to whack away.

Benzema shoots and the ball is deflected wide for a corner.

The visitors have started on the front foot and look full of energy.

The last time both sides met here in the Andalusian city (May last year) the game ended 1-1. Mariano was on target for Real Madrid and Sobrino found the net for the home side.

The major concern for all Madridistas tonight (apart from the result of course) is that no players pick up any niggles or injuries with the return leg of the Champions League quarter-final (second leg) vs Chelsea coming up on Tuesday.

Real Madrid start the game.

A packed house and expectation levels sky high as the home fans they can deliver a major shock.

A minute's silence to be held in memory of a former Cadiz director who passed away this week.

A wall of yellow and blue mosaics greet the sides as they emerge from the tunnel. 

Gil Manzano is our match official for tonight's clash.

Tremendous atmosphere at the ground.

Spectacular setting with the sun dropping into the sea beside the Nuevo Mirandilla stadium which is a stones throw from the beach just on the outskirts of the city.

A reminder of the teams for tonight's games as kick-off looms.

Cadiz in their classic yellow shirts and blue shorts with Madrid in their iconic all white.

The home defeat to Villarreal, the only blot on the copybook for Real Madrid in recent weeks as Ancelotti's men really have their sights set on both the Champions League and Copa del Rey competitions.

Cadiz have picked up form since the start of the year and are no longer firm favourites to join Elche in heading to segunda.

The Gaditanos recorded a historic win last weekend beating Real Betis in Seville for the first time ever and the result will provide a shot in the arm as they face Real Madrid tonight.

Real Madrid sit 13 points behind FC Barcelona with not even the most optimistic of the club's fans feeling that a massive wobble is on the cards from Xavi's men with 11 games of the 2022-23 season to play.

It's more a question of when Barcelona can be crowned champions as Madrid focus on the Champions League and look forward to their Copa del Rey final game against Osasuna in early May.

Cadiz currently sit four points above the relegation zone as Elche, Espanyol and Valencia currently occupy the final three drop zone positions.

A win would propel Cadiz up to 13th place, an example of just how tight things are at the foot of the table

Cadiz XI confirmed

CCF head coach Sergio Gonzalez names the following team to face Real Madrid with Sergi Guardiola and Chris Ramos leading the line as part of a 4-4-2 formation.

CCF head coach Sergio Gonzalez names the following team to face Real Madrid with Sergi Guardiola and Chris Ramos leading the line as part of a 4-4-2 formation.

Cadiz-Real Madrid... meeting of the brothers

Cadiz player Alex Fernandez and brother Nacho go head-to-head tonight at the Nuevo Mirandilla with the result set to lead to no end of ribbing in the Fernandez clan.

Alex cut his teeth as a younger player with the Real Madrid 'B' team before having spells in Croatia and England before moving back to Spain with Elche.

He is poised to make 200 appearances in a Cadiz shirt and is the younger of the Fernandez footballing brothers.

Carlo Ancelotti: pre-game:

Italian manager Ancelotti on Cadiz: "It’s a difficult game because Cádiz are in good form, they’re playing well, they are an intense, demanding side so this game comes at an awkward time for us - immediately after a Champions League quarter final. So a difficult game but we are determined to put in a good game."

Sergio pre-game:

Speaking ahead of tonight's game, Cadiz boss reflected on his side's recent positive run that has seen the 'Gaditanos' move away from the automatic relegation zone but warned that 'Real Madrid can make you pay in the blink of an eye' and warned the side from the capital that if they want to win, they need 'to be at their best, as they will face a side full of ambition and desire'.

Key absentees for Sergio Gonzalez

With Ancelotti opting to leave key players out of the squad as part of a rotation measure, Sergio is missing six key Cadiz players ahead of the Madrid game.

The 46-year-old coach is without: Diarra, Juan Cala, Garrido, Zaldua, Ocampo and Escalante who are all injured. Argentine keeper Ledesma is also ruled out though to a suspension with David Gil set to man the sticks tonight.

Ancelotti names his XI

So, most of the anticipated players start with Rodrygo and Marco Asensio set to help Benzema out on striking duty. 

All set in Cadiz

The 20,000 capacity Nuevo Mirandilla stadium is ready for the visit of the current league and UCL holders with the visit of Madrid to the city always generating huge amounts of interest with many Madridistas based in the city of Cadiz.

Real Madrid’s possible XI to face Cádiz

With both Vini Jr and Toni Kroos being rested ahead of the midweek Chelsea clash in London, this could be Real Madrid's side for the LaLiga matchday 29 test in Cadiz.

Courtois; Vázquez, Rüdiger, Alaba, Nacho; Tchouameni, Ceballos, Valverde or Camavinga; Asensio, Benzema, Rodrygo.

Real Madrid:

Meanwhile, Los Blancos will be aiming to record another victory to get closer to Barcelona, who aren’t showing any signs of slowing down in the league. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been painfully inconsistent this season but have tended to save their best showings for the cup competitions. They lost to Villarreal in their last La Liga outing but swept aside Chelsea 2-0 in the Champions League this week.

When everything clicks for Madrid they can be a devastating force, as shown by the recent 6-0 thrashing of Valladolid and 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Cádiz will hope that Madrid are concentrating on their Champions League second leg and may rest some of their stars on Saturday.

Cadiz:

The hosts will be looking to step away from the relegation zone when they welcome Real Madrid to the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla tonight. They come into the game off the back of a crucial 2-0 victory away to Real Betis last time out.

El Submarino Amarillo are currently 14th in the standings with 31 points, one of eight sides for whom relegation is a genuine concern. Elche are 14 point adrift at the bottom, but above them are seven teams within just five points of each other. With ten games remaining, every point will be crucial.

Cadiz have only beaten Real Madrid twice in their meetings over the years with the last win coming in 2020 at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium with Honduran striker Lozano bagging the winner as part of a 0-1 win.

The only previous victory for the Andalusian men came back in 1991 when they recorded a 1-0 at the Ramon de Carranza as the current ground used to be known.

Real Madrid have won 12 meetings with 4 games drawn.

Never a better time to play Real Madrid claim many Cadiz fans as the game somes at the midway point between 'Los Blancos' Champions League quarter-final games as they hold a 2-0 lead over Chelsea from Wednesday's first leg at the Bernabeu.
With Ancelotti resting key players and the league a bridge too far, Cadiz fans are rubbing their hands hoping for an upset tonight. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the LaLiga Santander matchday 29 clash as Cadiz welcome Real Madrid to the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium with a 3pm (ET) / 12pm (PT) or 2100 CEST start.