Real Madrid are back at the Santiago Bernabeu this Thursday evening when they play hosts to the strugglers Cadiz in La Liga as the champions now sit second in the top flight after a run of winless games and a rise in form from Barcelona.
At the start of the season and the first few games into the campaign, it looked like Real would storm to another La Liga title and do well in the defence of their European crown too. Now, however, they are five points adrift of their rivals Barcelona after they stunningly beat Osasuna on Tuesday night with nine men.
🔜 #RealMadridCádiz pic.twitter.com/DX5ezCZkum— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 9, 2022
🔜 #RealMadridCádiz pic.twitter.com/DX5ezCZkum
Real can cut this gap down to three points when they meet with Cadiz, but unless Barcelona lose on the weekend and Real win, they will be second until after the World Cup at least.
This comes as a result of two games without a win for the European champions in La Liga, starting with a 1-1 draw at home to Girona. Vinicius Junior did score that day for Real, but with Toni Kroos getting sent off in added time, he missed the following game but can now return for this one.
The last game saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men lose in a local Madrid derby to rivals Rayo Vallecano as Luka Modric scored from the penalty spot, while Eder Militao scored a goal too. Those two goals just before half time did see Real lead at one stage, until a winner from Vallecano in the second half.
Ancelotti's side are now with 10 wins from 13 games, have the second-best goalscoring record after Barcelona with 31 goals too, and this loss to Vallecano was their first in La Liga this season.
On the other hand, with Athletic Club eight points adrift of them in third, the club are way ahead of everyone else in the league and a two-horse race for the La Liga title is already happening with the El Clasico giants leading the way.
As for Cadiz, they remain in the relegation zone and will need to get at least two points in the next two games before the World Cup break if they are to get out of the bottom three, mainly because of their terrible goalscoring form.
In fact, only a handful of clubs across Europe's top five leagues have scored fewer than their eight so far in La Liga.
Forebet predicts a win for Real and for the game to see over 2.5 goals.