Two of the bottom three play against one another in a relegation six-pointer on Monday night, with Elche still looking for their first win of the season having taken four points from 16 games so far in 2022/23. Pablo Machín’s arrival in the dugout has done little to help, with back-to-back defeats in La Liga and Copa del Rey elimination against third-tier Ceuta.

Home team Cádiz come into this game following two games unbeaten, including an impressive victory over Valencia at Mestalla to start 2023 last weekend. At the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla, they have been tougher to beat, with only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Club taking points from trips to Andalusia.

A win for Cádiz would be the first time since May 2021 that they have won consecutive matches, meaning it would also be a first under coach Sergio González, and there would not be a better time to do it than as the club look to build momentum to climb out of the relegation zone, despite the loss of forward Lucas Pérez.

Their hopes will be boosted by the fact that Elche will be without defensive rock Pedro Bigas as he serves a suspension, and he will be missed given that he has started 14 and featured in 15 of Elche’s 16 LaLiga games to date this season. The last time they lined up without the veteran was the 1-0 defeat to Ceuta that was identified as a low-point in a disastrous campaign.