Our prediction for this Segunda Division match:
Granada will look to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Lugo when they kick off 2023 with a match against Cartagena. Los Granadinos aim to stay in the playoffs berth, and you should know that they are eyeing their ninth home win of the process. Both Miguel Angel Rubio and Victor Diaz are banned for the match, while fellow defender Ignasi Miquel should miss out with injury.
The Black and Whites, on the other hand, suffered a dip in form, and given their poor defensive display in a 3-0 loss to Racing Santander, we believe that there is a big value in betting on Granada. Borja should replace Izquierdo in the starting XI, whilst both Aaron Escandell and Kiko Olivas are major doubts. In the first half of the season the two teams played out a goalless draw, but home win should be considered this time out.
Highlighted Player (Raul Fernandez):
Born in Bilbao, Spain on March 13, 1988 Raul Fernandez is a 196-cm-tall goalkeeper who plays for La Liga side Levante. Fernandez played for the youth team of his home-town club Athletic Bilbao from 1998 to 2006 and he began his senior career at fellow Basque outfit Basconia. After making 29 appearances for the club in the 2006/2007 season Raul Fernandez returned to Athletic Bilbao in 2007 and it has to be noted that he played 19 games for the reserve team.
After spending the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons on loan at Conquense and Granada respectively the Spanish shoot-stopper started playing for Athletic Bilbao at senior level, but he made only five appearances for the Lions in La Liga.
In 2013 Raul Fernandez was loaned to Numancia and after ending his loan spell with los Rojillos he moved to Raving Santander. Nowadays the Basque footballer is a part of La Liga team Levante and you should know that he managed to keep 17 clean sheets in 33 appearances for los Levantinos in the 2016/2017 Segunda Division campaign.
Highlighted Team (Cartagena):
Founded on July 25, 1995, Cartagena is a Spanish football club that plays in La Liga 2. Los Boquerones dropped to Segunda B in the 2011/12 season, but following an eight-year absence, they returned to the Spanish second tier.
Cartagena play home matches at Cartagonova, the venue which can hold 15,105 spectators. The stadium was built by CMMP Arquitectos in 1987, and opened the following year. Real Murcia are regarded as the club’s main rivals, with the two teams facing each other in the Derbi of the Region of Murcia. Toche is leading Cartagena’s all-time top goalscoring chart with 39 goals.
Los Boquerones are well known for their black shirts with white stripes. Red, on the other hand, is the dominant colour of the club’s away kit. It has to be noted that Cartagena have never competed in la liga. The club’s highest ranking in the Segunda Division came in the 2009/10 season when they finished the campaign in 5th position in the standings.