Barcelona 1-0 Cádiz (Apr 13, 2024) Game Analysis

João Félix netted an excellent bicycle kick to earn depleted Barcelona a 1-0 La Liga win at relegation-threatened Cádiz on Saturday as supervisor Xavi Hernandez rested key gamers forward of their Champions League quarterfinal towards Paris Saint-Germain.

Barça moved to 70 factors, eight behind leaders Actual Madrid, whom they may face in El Clasico on the Santiago Bernabeu subsequent weekend.

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They’re two factors forward of third-placed Girona, who misplaced 3-1 at fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

“We knew we might undergo right here,” Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernandez stated in his post-match information convention. “Cádiz are a properly organised and aggressive facet. It was a very skilled efficiency.

“We needed to win to maintain the stress on Actual Madrid. It wasn’t simple however it’s three essential factors. We’re combating for LaLiga, we need to compete. It isn’t in our fingers however it’s as much as us to attempt to minimize the hole on Madrid. There may be ambition, dedication … Everyone seems to be up for it. I’m pleased with the crew.”

Barça dominated the early phases and Félix scored the winner within the thirty seventh minute with a shocking strike, pouncing on a rebound from a nook to acrobatically volley dwelling.

The Portuguese ahead, on mortgage from Atletico Madrid, had scored a bicycle kick in his earlier go to to Cádiz, a 3-2 loss final season with the capital membership.

“I assume this stadium provides me luck. It wasn’t deliberate, I simply reacted and it occurred. What a fantastic feeling it was and even higher with a win this time,” Félix informed Movistar Plus+.

“We made an excellent sport from the beginning, it’s a very troublesome stadium to play at. We have been good up-front early and good on defence in a while, once they made a run as they’re combating for salvation.”

Added Xavi: “João Félix is a participant with baggage of expertise. He’s completely satisfied right here. It is a fantastic aim, however past that it was how he pressed and the way he understood when to go exterior and when to go inside.

“We give him that freedom of motion to deliver his expertise out and it was an exquisite efficiency tonight. He has made the aim himself.”

Cádiz are 18th within the standings on 25 factors, third backside and three factors behind Seventeenth-placed Celta who’re simply exterior the relegation zone.

As Actual and Atletico each received whereas resting common starters forward of key Champions League clashes, Barça boss Xavi took that call to the acute and made eight adjustments to the crew who fought again to win at PSG on Wednesday.

Lacking Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gündogan and João Cancelo, nonetheless, they did simply sufficient to earn their sixth consecutive win in all competitions and lengthen their unbeaten run to 13 aggressive matches.

Aside from Félix’s aerial effort and a goal-line clearance by Cádiz defender Victor Chust from a Fermin Torres shot, Barça didn’t do a lot and have been saved by impressed goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen who made key saves to frustrate Cádiz.

Data from Reuters and ESPN’s Sam Marsden contributed to this report.