FC Andorra Edges Cádiz 1-0 on Cerdà Strike, Climbs to Ninth

FC Andorra secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Cádiz on Sunday, moving into ninth place in La Liga Hypermotion with 49 points after 35 matchdays. The win, courtesy of Josep Cerdà's 35th-minute strike, leaves the team nine points behind sixth-placed Castelló and the promotion play-offs, with seven games remaining and 21 points still available. Relegation places sit 15 points adrift, making survival all but assured.

Cerdà, the Pollença winger playing as a false nine, beat goalkeeper Víctor Aznar with a curling shot to the far post after a deft turn past Kouamé. The Mallorca native has now scored eight goals this season—four in the last three outings—tying him with the injured Lautaro de León as the side's top scorer, alongside two assists since the turn of the year. He has featured in every match during the team's run of 20 points from 27 possible, including six wins in nine.

The match at Cádiz's JP Financial Estadio drew 13,655 spectators. A cagey first half saw few chances: Marc Domènech forced a save from Aznar, Efe Akman headed wide, and Owono comfortably held Jero Dómina's long-range effort before Cerdà's breakthrough. Cádiz hit the post through Álvaro García Pascual shortly after, but Andorra led at the break.

Cádiz pushed hard in the second half after Brian Ocampo replaced the booked Kouamé. Min-su spurned a one-on-one, while Owono made key stops from Lucas Pérez's header and Suso's drive. Carles Manso, leading the technical staff in the absence of a permanent head coach, introduced Yeray Cabanzón, Manu Nieto, Petxa, and Théo Le Normand, with the latter striking the post late on. Referee Eder Mallo, who has now officiated four Andorra wins this season, issued yellows to Diego Alende, Min-su, Kouamé, Ocampo, Álex Fernández, and Iker Recio.

Andorra, owned by Gerard Piqué and directed by Jaume Nogués, have earned 25 away points—the fourth-best record in the division—surpassing their 2022-23 tally under Eder Sarabia by two. Key performers include goalkeeper Jesús Owono, central defender Diego Alende, midfielder Marc Domènech, and midfielder Efe Akman, son of former Galatasaray and Turkey star Ayhan Akman.

Lautaro de León faces six weeks out with a left hamstring injury, opening opportunities for Manu Nieto, though winter signing Marc Cardona remains on the fringes. Manso praised the defensive resilience: "It's impossible not to suffer here. Our backline work against their bench changes deserves recognition." He reiterated the 50-point target as the priority: "We haven't achieved our goal yet. Next week, we'll aim for that, then see further—no limits."

Akman echoed growing ambitions without complacency: "We're playing well in a great moment. I think we'll fight for the play-offs—if there were 10 more games, we'd make it." The team hosts Real Valladolid on Sunday at noon, followed by trips to Leganés, home games against Albacete and Las Palmas, and visits to Deportivo de La Coruña, Ceuta, and Burgos.