Too little, too late

Cádiz went into matchday 37 with a renewed sense of belief after boosting their survival hopes with consecutive victories. Rubén Alcaraz’s spot-kick proved enough to see off Getafe, before Sergi Guardiola netted a 96th-minute winner to snatch maximum points against Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. They were still in a perilous position but knew a win on Sunday would send their relegation fight to the final weekend of the season.

With their LaLiga place at stake, the Andalusian outfit could not have wished for a better opponent for Sunday’s season-defining game. They played host to a Las Palmas side bereft of confidence following a three-month winless run. For a brief moment, Cádiz thought they had taken advantage of their opponents’ vulnerability when Javi Hernández tapped in from close range. Unfortunately for those in yellow, their celebrations counted for nothing as replays revealed a costly offside in the build-up.

They quickly restarted their search for a crucial opener, but as the game wore on their quest became all the more desperate. Emotions boiled over when centre-back Victor Chust was dismissed for a reckless challenge with just over 15 minutes remaining. In Chust’s absence, Mauricio Pellegrino’s side threw caution to the wind. Fali was left to effectively marshall the backline on his own as the tactical structure was swapped for chaotic football. Pellegrino had thrown on Juanmi, Maxi Gómez, Brian Ocampo and Guardiola in the hope that one of them would make a decisive intervention. However, those hopes continued to fade until referee Cesar Soto Grado blew the whistle to call time on the game and Cádiz’s four-year stay in the top flight.

For all the promise of their recent resurgence, it was all too little too late for Cádiz. Consecutive wins had created dreams of a great escape, but Sunday’s final whistle ultimately confirmed the harsh reality that Cádiz were simply not good enough. Their valiant displays in the last three matches suggest there has been no lack of will or determination. But they have crucially been lacking in quality, particularly in the final third. 

With just one game to play, Cádiz’s fans have witnessed their side register 25 measly league goals. Unless they grab a couple more on the final day, they will finish the campaign with the lowest tally since Las Palmas and Malaga mustered 24 goals in 2017-18. Unfortunately for Cádiz, none of Chris Ramos, Roger Martí, Gómez, Juanmi, or Guardiola have been able to hit the heights required to keep the club in the division. Ramos is on course to finish the campaign as the club’s top scorer despite netting just five times in 37 league matches. 

While disappointing, the failure to find a real goalscoring touch has alluded Cádiz for most of their stay in the top flight. Since returning to LaLiga in 2020, they have experienced a gradual decline in the final third, netting 36, 35, 30 and 25 goals in each season. Perhaps, it was only a matter of time before their attacking deficiencies would eventually catch up with them.

That lack of cutting-edge has ultimately contributed to their woeful away form. Having failed to net more than one goal in 17 of their 18 away games, Cádiz have scored only nine times on their travels this season. Such a statistic has made it incredibly difficult to pick up points and wins on the road. In fact, they had to wait until earlier this month to end their long wait for the first away league victory of the season.

After placing an excessive demand on their home fixtures, it is not surprising to see their campaign end in disappointment. Cádiz’s demotion ultimately completes a miserable season for Andalucía. They will fall through the trap door with Almería and Granada, ensuring the second tier will be treated to at least three Andalusian sides – a stark contrast to the non-existent representation in this season’s Segunda División.

Cádiz supporters will be fully aware that an immediate return is by no means guaranteed. Following their relegation from the top flight in 2006, Cádiz spent 14 years floundering in the second and third tier before they finally returned to the bright lights of LaLiga. For now, they will bid farewell and exit stage left. But, there is no doubt that one day the club and their passionate fanbase will return to Spain’s top table.