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

Segunda Division outfit Fuenlabrada welcome top-flight side Cadiz to the Estadio Fernando Torres on Thursday, with a place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey up for grabs.

The hosts enter this encounter in poor form, having not won a league game in their last 13 attempts, while Cadiz are also winless in six La Liga outings.

Match preview

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Fuenlabrada currently sit 20th in the Segunda Division, four points adrift of safety, and they have only managed to win three league games so far this season.

Jose Luis Oltra's side extended their winless run last time out when they fell to a 2-1 defeat against UD Ibiza on home soil, where Fuenlabrada have only lost three times in 12 matches.

The team will be helped in the second half of this campaign if they can turn some of their draws into victories, having been held to one point at the Estadio Fernando Torres on seven occasions.

Fuenlabrada needed penalties in the last round of this competition to get passed San Sebastian de los Reyes, after the two teams played out a goalless draw before Oltra's team won 5-4 from the spot kicks.

The hosts are expected to find it difficult to get on the scoresheet on Thursday, as they have only netted 16 times in 22 Segunda Division games this season, the joint lowest total in the league.

Meanwhile, Cadiz are also not performing well in La Liga, currently sitting in 19th spot but only two points behind Elche, who occupy 17th place.

Similarly to Fuenlabrada, Alvaro Cervera's side have struggled in front of goal, scoring 15 goals in 19 matches, and that form continued last time out when they welcomed Sevilla to the Estadio Ramon de Carranza.

The visitors, who are second in La Liga, dominated that match but only needed a single strike from Lucas Ocampos to send Cadiz to a 1-0 defeat.

Florin Andone's 20th minute strike for Cadiz in the previous stage of the Copa del Rey ensured that Cervera's side overcame Albacete last month, and they will now be looking to reach the round of 16 for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.

Team News

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Fuenlabrada centre-back Juanma and left-back Pol Valentin are certain to be absentees on Thursday, with Juanma set to miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury and Valentin to be sidelined for another few weeks.

Midfield duo Jano and Brahim Konate are expected to make their returns from injury this month, but this week's game is likely to have come too early for the pair to feature.

Winger Pedro Leon is Fuenlabrada's top goalscorer this season with six Segunda Division strikes to his name, and he is certain to start with Mula potentially lining up on the other wing.

Cadiz midfielder Alberto Perea will be forced to miss out on this game due to coronavirus, while Anthony Lozano, Jon Ander and Santiago Arzamendia are all expected to be absent due to injury.

Second goalkeeper David Gil started both games in the Copa del Rey prior to this stage, and he is expected to continue between the posts in this competition, while young midfielder Alvaro Bastida could get another opportunity to play.

Milutin Osmajic lead the line for Cadiz last time out in Lozano's absence, but Andone could come into the starting 11 to lead the line for the visitors this time around.

Fuenlabrada possible starting lineup:
Morro; Gozzi, Pulido, Pina, Iribas; Bravo, M'Bia; Leon, Molina, Mula; Zozulya

Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Gil; Akapo, Chust, Haroyan, Parra; Calderon, Bastida; Chapela, Jonsson, Jimenez; Andone

We say: Fuenlabrada 0-1 Cadiz

With both teams struggling in front of goal in their respective leagues this season, it is likely to be a low-scoring affair on Thursday, but Cadiz should come out on top.

The top tier side may have lost to Sevilla last time out but prior to that they earned a good point against Real Madrid, and that shows that they have enough defensive security to stop Fuenlabrada from scoring.

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