Victor's force has been diminished because of requests for reinforcement from Soult to aid his siege of Badajoz.

This has brought the French numbers down to between twenty thousand and fifteen thousand and encourage the defenders of Cádiz to attempt a breakout, in conjunction with the arrival of an Anglo-Spanish relief army of around twelve thousand infantry and eight hundred cavalry under the overall command of Spanish General Manuel La Peña, with the British contingent being led by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham.

Marching towards Cádiz on February, this force defeats two French divisions under Victor at Barrosa on March 5.

The Allies fail to exploit their success and Victor soon renews the blockade.