DomainJava.com – Cartagena vs Leganes prediction in the Copa Del Rey match, La Liga team Leganes will try to secure their place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey when they face Segunda Division side Cartagena in the competition on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors suffered a 5-2 defeat to Villarreal in their last game in the top flight ahead of the winter break in Spain, while Cartagena will enter the contest on the back of a goalless draw with Albacete in the second division.
Cartagena have beaten Beasain and FC Andorra in their opening two matches of the 2024-25 Copa del Rey, and they are now eyeing a place in the last 16 of the competition.
Jandro Castro’s men suffered two heavy away defeats to Castellon and Granada in the league in mid-December, but they entered the winter break in Spain after drawing 0-0 with Albacete.
Cartagena have struggled in the second division this season, picking up just 14 points from 21 matches, which leaves them in 21st place in the Segunda Division table.
The Copa del Rey is a good distraction for now, and the fact that their next league game will take place on January 11 means that head coach Castro can pick a strong team for the clash against their La Liga opponents.
Leganes, meanwhile, suffered a 5-2 defeat to Villarreal last time out in La Liga, which was a huge disappointment considering they entered that match on the back of a 1-0 away win over Barcelona.
A total of 18 points from 18 games has left Borja Jimenez’s side in 15th place in the La Liga table, three points clear of the relegation zone, and there are plenty of positives to take from their campaign to date.
El Lega are the reigning Segunda Division champions, and they are aiming to achieve back-to-back seasons in the top flight for the first time since 2020, which was also the last time they made it past the last 32 of the Copa del Rey. .
Leganes beat Cuidad de Lucena in the first round of the Copa del Rey at the end of last October before needing a penalty shootout to beat Estepona in the second round after the two teams drew 2-2.
Jimenez’s side face a big league clash when they visit Espanyol on January 11, but they will be determined to avoid a shock Spanish Cup exit this weekend.
Luis Munoz has been Cartagena’s main source of goals this season, scoring four goals in 21 appearances, and there will be a place in the first team for the 27-year-old this weekend.
Gaston Valles is the second top scorer this season with three goals, and he is likely to lead the line, while there should also be a place in midfield for Sergio Guerrero, who arrived from Atletico Madrid last summer.
As for Leganes, Enric Franquesa is out with a muscle problem, while Renato Tapia is also unlikely to feature.
Head coach Jimenez is expected to make changes for the game against Cartagena, with Iker Bachiller, Juan Soriano, Roberto Lopez, Munir El Haddadi, Sebastien Haller and Julian Chicco coming into the XI.
Seydouba Cisse scored against Villarreal before the winter break, and the 23-year-old is likely to keep his place, while Adria Alti should also return to the right-back role. (ed)
(source: Sportsmole)
Cartagena vs Leganes Player Predictions
Cartagena: Cunat; Moreno, Alcala, Sipcic, Reina; Musto; Roman, Guerrero, Munoz, Gonzalez; Valleys
Leganes: Soriano; Alti, Porozo, Saenz, Bachelor; Cruz, Chicco, Cisse, El Haddadi; Lopez, Haller
Cartagena vs Leganes Score Prediction: 1-2
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