Considering 14th-placed Cádiz were just two points above Almería in 19th prior to kick-off, this clash had all the makings of a relegation six-pointer. And the visitors made the stronger start, with DR Congo international Théo Bongonda’s low shot from just inside the penalty area forcing Rojiblancos shot-stopper Fernando Martínez into action. And he was soon involved once more when he seemingly won a penalty after being brought down inside the box. However, referee Carlos del Cerro Grande’s original decision was corrected following a VAR intervention, instead awarding the visitors a free-kick that was subsequently wasted.
For the first half-hour, Almería struggled to put their opponents under any pressure, but they would have gone into the interval wondering how they had not taken the lead. They had a number of big opportunities in the build-up to the break, with only a combination of David Gil and the woodwork keeping the scores level. The Yellow Submarine shot-stopper reacted fantastically to Íñigo Eguaras’ rasping 20-yard drive and also denied Léo Baptistão from close range either side of a Luis Suárez header that struck the crossbar.
Football is often unforgiving, and Almería were made to rue those missed chances within four minutes of the restart. Luis Hernández had displayed his throw-in prowess in the first period and the opener came via one of his lengthy hurls into the danger zone, with Roger Martí getting the final touch to net his first goal for Cádiz since joining on loan from Elche in January. Both outfits threatened to trouble the scoreboard operator once more as Sergi Guardiola tested Martínez with a controlled volley, before Eguaras and Melero missed the target with free headers at the other end.
But the latter made amends right at the death, netting from the spot after Suárez was felled in the area by Mamadou Mbaye. Despite the rescued point, Rubi’s men remain in the relegation zone and must start to pick up points against those around them rather than saving their best performances for the likes of Barcelona, who they recently stunned 1-0 on home soil.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sergi Guardiola (Cádiz)
