Written By: Mark Walker, , Match Preview

WALES return to the world's oldest international football stadium when they host a friendly in Wrexham against minnows Gibraltar on Wednesday.

The Racecourse Ground was first used for a Wales game in 1877 and of course it's been given the Hollywood treatment by the club who are owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

But even they would hard pushed to create a script that creates much interest in this one, with nations now forced by UEFA to play a minimum amount of games per year, hence this match.

For the Welsh, this will be used as a warm-up to their massive qualifier on Sunday when they host Croatia. They have had a mixed campaign after an excellent point in Croatia, but they also lost at home to Armenia.

But their 2-0 win in Latvia in their last game has propelled them right back into the mix for qualifying. As well as the Croats, they still have to go to Armenia before a potentially crucial home game against Turkey to end the group.

Gibraltar won a couple of friendlies last year against Andorra and Liechtenstein, but have reverted to type in the qualifiers. They have lost all five of their games and have failed to score a single goal.

How the bookies view it

Wales are predictably unbackable at 1/25 with bet365 and as short as 1/50 in places.

Gibraltar can be backed at 90/1 with Coral and even the draw is 20/1 with the same firm.

Recent head to heads

The nations have never met and Wales last played in Wrexham four years ago in a friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago.

Players to watch

Kieffer Moore is Wales' top scorer in the squad with ten goals in 35 appearances and the Bournemouth striker He could do with a goal because he is yet to score this season. He is 8/11 with Paddy Power to net.

Goals have been at something of a premium where Gibraltar are concerned, but at least Wycombe Wanderers striker Tjay De Barr can say he's scored three at international level. He's yet to score for his club this season though and is 11/1 to net with Paddy Power.

Anything else catch the eye?

As much as this should be a mismatch, this may yet be a bit of a struggle for the Welsh. Gibraltar tend to defend for their lives in depths and, as a result, don't suffer too many hammerings.

They only conceded three goals to France, Netherlands and Ireland although Greece did put five past them.

Welsh boss Rob Page has already confirmed he intends to blood several kids here so it might not be the expected mauling.

Back Wales to win and under 3.5 goals at 31/20 with Coral.

With Gibraltar camped in their half, they tend to concede a barrowload of corners – 14 in Dublin, 11 in the Algarve at ‘home' to France and 19 to the Dutch in Rotterdam.

So keep an eye on when the corners markets come up.

Paddy Power are offering 17/10 on Wales to win either 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 and that could be worth a go.

This match between Wales and Gibraltar will be played on Oct 11, 2023 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Wales vs Gibraltar prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.

Betting Tips and Predicitions
Wales to win and under 3.5 goals
31/20
Coral
Wales to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0
17/10
PaddyPower

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