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In driving rain and a strong wind, Cadiz started brightly, with Lobos in particularl looking comfortable in possession. The stands looked less full than normal as hundreds of fans sought shelter in the tunnels and at the back of the stands. With Espanyol coming off the back of a 5-0 drubbing of high flyers Sevilla, it was perhaps surprising that the visitors sat back and looked happy to defend whilst looking to play on the counter. Despite the good start, it was Fredson´s shot from distance after 10 minutes that was the first glimpse of a chance. The home side hit back straight away, with a Raúl López volley narrowly evading out stretched legs and the far post. Pavoni narrowly shot wide from inside the box but his effort wouldn´t have counted as the linesman raised his flag. As Cadiz controlled possession Espanyol continued to strike from distance, with Zabaleta and Fredson both trying their luck, with only a corner to show. On the stroke of half time Lobos almost broke the deadlock in peculiar circumstances, when his low driven corner crashed into the outside of the post and into the side netting.
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Cadiz
earned a much needed three points in a rain soaked Carranza on Saturday. Limia
retained his place in goal at the expense of Armando, whilst Esparrago reverted
back to the four defenders who played such a huge part in winning promotion last
year - Varela, Paz, De Quintana and Raúl López. Fleurquin joined Bezares in
the centre of midfield, with Estoyanoff, Pavoni and Lobos supporting Medina in a
lone role up front. 
The
second half continued in the same way, as memories of numerous encounters this
season came flooding back - Cadiz looking in control but struggling to find a
breakthrough, whilst conceding late goals. The rain finally let up, and as the
fans slowly made their way back to their seats, Cadiz looked to move up a gear.
An Estoyanoff freekick was millimetres away from fellow Uruguayan Medina´s
head, but the ball sailed harmlessly past the far post. Tamudo almost took
advantage of an awful defensive mix up but his toe poke was off target. In the
65th minute Esparrago made the substitution which undoubtedly changed the game,
swapping Estoyanoff for Jonathan Sesma. Lobos moved to the right as Sesma roved
down his favoured left wing, looking to rediscover last seasons form which has
at times seemed a distant memory this year. The man from the Canary Islands was
in fine form though, and his free-kick in the 73rd minute was inch perfect for
the recalled Abraham Paz to power a header past Iraizoz. Like Sesma, Paz has
also found it harder this year, and his goal was just reward for his fine
performance on his recall to the side. The relief amongst the fans was evident
as the home fans sensed a much needed three points. Moran came on and almost
doubled the lead with a long shot which was narrowly off target. Then in the
83rd minute Cadiz almost threw the points away before wrapping them up. A Luis
García effort was pushed on to the inside of the post by Limia, who then
recovered to drag the ball back from the line and into his chest before an
attacker could react. At the other end Paz then returned the favour to Sesma, as
his freekick was delicately chipped to the winger who had timed his run to
perfection. Sesma had one touch and volleyed the ball low and hard into the
bottom right hand corner to secure the three points. Enrique came on and looked
dangerous on the break, but like the match in Espanyol 2-0 to Cadiz was how it
finished. If Cadiz avoid relegation this season, there is no doubt the fans will
be happier with the 2-0 victories in the league than swapping them with the two
0-2 losses at the hands of Espanyol in the quarter finals in the Copa del Rey.
With this being the first of four big six pointers in March, this was the
ideal start and a positive result at Bilbao next week will be a further step
towards safety.