Having snapped a three-game streak without a win or goal in La Liga, the Yellow Submarine boast a healthy four-point lead over the relegation zone in 14th place and have taken a giant step towards retaining their top-flight status, but there is still work to be done for Sergio and co.
Furthermore, the visitors travel to the Wanda Metropolitano having avoided defeat in each of their last four away games – winning once and drawing three times on the road since the start of March – and Cadiz memorably sunk Atletico 3-2 in October thanks to Ruben Sobrino’s 99th-minute strike.
However, Atletico had previously strung together a 14-game unbeaten run against the Yellow Submarine, and Los Rojiblancos have never suffered defeat to Cadiz on their own patch, only failing to win during a goalless draw in 1991.
Still without the services of Marcos Llorente (adductor), Reinildo (ACL) and Stefan Savic (finger), Atletico will also work around the absence of number one goalkeeper Jan Oblak for a little while longer due to the Slovenian’s discomfort.
Ivo Grbic will therefore continue to deputise in goal, although Oblak could be back in time for the trip to Elche in two weeks’ time, and Depay was also withdrawn from training on Tuesday due to discomfort. A spot on the bench will likely await Depay in any case, though, as Morata and Antoine Griezmann continue in their recognisable final-third partnership.
Meanwhile, Cadiz’s gamesmanship helped get them over the line against Valencia, but no fewer than three players have now incurred bans for yellow card accumulation – Fede San Emeterio, Luis Hernandez and Sobrino will all sit this one out. The Yellow Submarine also continue to work around an unenviable injury list, as Jose Zaldua (ligament), Jon Ander Garrido (knee), Juan Cala (meniscus), Victor Chust (thigh), Roger Marti (hamstring), Brian Ocampo (knee) will miss out again.
