FC Barcelona receives Cádiz at the Camp Nou this Sunday, February 19, 2023, in the match corresponding to day 22 of the League. Xavi Hernández’s team seeks to redirect the focus of attention to the pitch in a week in which the scandal of the payment of 6.6 million euros from Barça to Enríquez Negreira, who was vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, has been uncovered.

The controversy coincides with the best sporting moment for the Catalans since Xavi sat on the bench. Barcelona accumulates 16 games without defeat; in fact, since the 1-1 against Espanyol, on December 31, everything has been victories. A streak that has led them to climb to the top of the table with a loot of 8 points ahead of Real Madrid, their immediate rival.

For its part, Cádiz arrives at the Camp Nou with the intention of fishing in troubled waters. Sergio González’s team faces the strongest defense in Europe, since Barça have only conceded seven goals in 21 games played, but with high morale as it is the first time in the entire season that they have played out of position descent.

The Cadistas have managed to win in two of their last three matches and now they are looking for the match at the Camp Nou, where they have only been victorious on a single occasion; It was last season with a goal from Lucas Pérez. From there they have only been able to scratch two more points in their entire history, two draws harvested in the 1977/78 and 2020/21 campaigns. The other 11 duels between Barça and Cádiz ended with victories for the locals.

For this match, the coach of the culé team will not be able to count on one of his key pieces, Pedri, injured last Thursday during the match against Manchester United. The canary suffers an injury to the rectus femoris of his right leg that could put him out of action for three weeks. Another notable absence will be Araujo, the head of the defense, having to serve a one-match ban, as well as Ousmane Dembélé, who continues to recover from his injury. Who could reappear Sergio Busquets, after leaving behind the physical problems.

Sergio González also has sensitive casualties in order to configure the 11th for Cádiz. Pacha Espino must serve a one-match ban due to card accumulation, joining the injured David Gil, José Mari and Negredo on the list of absences.

Referee Pablo González Fuertes, from the Asturian Committee, will lead the match.

The Camp Nou match between FC Barcelona and Cádiz, corresponding to matchday 22 of the League, will be played this Sunday, February 19, 2023, starting at 9:00 p.m.

The Barcelona-Cádiz match in the League can be seen live on television through Movistar’s Movistar LaLiga channel. The match can also be followed in real time through ELMUNDO.es.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project