Real Madrid will enter Saturday afternoon's La Liga clash with relegation-threatened Cadiz knowing that a victory could be enough to see them crowned as champions with four games to spare.
Should Los Blancos beat 18th-placed Cadiz, Carlo Ancelotti's side would win the title if second-placed Barcelona fail to win against third-placed Girona later in the day.
Match preview
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Real Madrid have been comfortably the best side in Spain's top flight this season, picking up 84 points from their 33 matches, which has left them 11 points clear of second-placed Barcelona at the top of the table with five games left.
Ancelotti's side have 26 wins, six draws and one defeat to their name in the league this term, while they have the best attacking record with 71 goals scored and strongest defensive record with 22 conceded.
Real Madrid were 10 points behind Barcelona in last season's La Liga campaign, but they are now close to reclaiming the title. As mentioned, a win here, coupled with Barcelona failing to overcome Girona later in the day, would see Los Blancos confirmed as champions with four games left.
It is certainly a case of 'when' and not 'if' Real Madrid win the title, though, with their 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the league last time out proving to be a huge result considering that Ancelotti made changes ahead of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
The capital outfit were far from their best against Bayern on Tuesday, but they managed to claim a 2-2 draw in Germany, with the return fixture taking place at Bernabeu next week.
Such is their position in La Liga, Ancelotti is therefore expected to make wholesale changes once again, as there is simply no downplaying the importance of the clash with Thomas Tuchel's side, and a victory would see them set up a final against either Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund.
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Cadiz, meanwhile, are fighting for their lives towards the bottom of the table, with the Yellow Submarine currently 18th, five points behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo with five games left.
Mauricio Pellegrino's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Mallorca, and it was vital that they did not lose against one of the teams close to them in the table.
Cadiz need wins at this stage of the campaign, though, and they have only managed to pick up maximum points in four of their 33 La Liga fixtures this term, with only basement side Almeria on fewer victories (one).
El Submarino Amarillo are in their fourth straight season in La Liga, which represents their best run since the early 1990s, but they are facing the serious possibility of dropping down into the Segunda Division for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Cadiz have picked up 20 points from their 17 home league matches this season, with all four of their wins coming in front of their own fans, but Real Madrid have comfortably the best away record in Spain's top flight in 2023-24, securing 40 points from 17 matches.
Team News
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Thibaut Courtois is set to make his first appearance of the season on Saturday, with the Real Madrid goalkeeper recovering from a second knee operation of the campaign.
The Belgian recently returned to full training alongside his teammates and is expected to replace Andriy Lunin between the sticks against Cadiz in what will be a huge boost for the Spanish giants.
David Alaba remains unavailable due to a knee injury, but Dani Carvajal is back from a Champions League suspension, and he is expected to start at right-back despite claims that he could be rested again ahead of the second leg of the European Cup semi-final with Bayern.
Ancelotti is expected to ring the changes once again, with Eder Militao set to feature from the first whistle, while the likes of Fran Garcia, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos and Joselu should also start.
Aurelien Tchouameni had emerged as a doubt due to a knock which he picked up during Thursday's training session, but the midfielder is in the squad.
As for Cadiz, Jorge Mere, Fede San Emeterio, Jose Mari, Romingue Kouame and Luis Hernandez have been ruled out of the contest through injury, while Lucas Pires and Aiham Ousou are fitness doubts.
Ousou is believed to be winning his battle to be available, but Pires is likely to miss out, which could see Javi Hernandez return to the side at left-back.
Sergi Guardiola and Maxi Gomez are options for change in the final third of the field, but Chris Ramos and Juanmi should keep their spots, while Alex Fernandez is again expected to operate in central midfield.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, F Garcia; Camavinga, Modric; Guler, Brahim, Ceballos; Joselu
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Ousou, Fali, Chust, J Hernandez; Carcelen, Alcaraz, Alex, Navarro; Ramos, Juanmi
We say: Real Madrid 2-0 Cadiz
Real Madrid have won their last three league matches against Cadiz, including a 3-0 success in the reverse match earlier this season, but it was only 2-1 at Bernabeu last term.
The home side will not be at full strength this weekend, but we are still expecting them to secure all three points, which could see them win the La Liga title on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
