Wales will be looking to return to winning ways in World Cup qualifying when they lock horns with Liechtenstein at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.
Craig Bellamy’s side hit the ground running with a 3-1 over Kazakhstan before earning a last-gasp 1-1 draw away at North Macedonia.
That four point haul has left the Dragons sitting joint top of Group J following two rounds of fixtures.
Seeking to strengthen their position in the standings, Wales will be expected to make light work of international lesser lights Liechtenstein.
The Blue-Reds have come away empty-handed from each of their opening two qualifiers, losing 3-0 to North Macedonia and then coming up short in a 2-0 defeat to Kazakhstan.
Consequently, Konrad Funfstuck’s side find themselves rooted to the bottom of Group J, and it’s difficult to see that changing given the challenges that lie in wait.
How the bookies view it: A cakewalk in Cardiff
Understandably, Wales are overwhelming favourites on Friday night, with a home success as short as 1/33 on Boylesports.
Liechtenstein – who have lost each of their last four matches -are massive outsiders here at 40/1 with Boylesports, while a share of the Cardiff City Stadium spoils is also deemed unlikely at 18/1 with the same bookmaker.
Head to head: Dragons out to deliver another win
Wales and Liechtenstein will cross paths for just the fourth time on Friday night. The pair first met in a friendly fixture back in 2006 before running into each other during the qualification stages for the 2010 World Cup, with Wales winning each of those three respective contests.
Players to watch: More joy for Johnson?
Fresh off the back of scoring the winning goal for Tottenham in this season’s Europa League final, Wales will look to Brennan Johnson for inspiration on Friday night. Bundling up a Wales win and a Johnson goal will bring about a 4/5 (Boylesports) Bet Builder option.
Aron Sele has been booked six times across his previous 11 appearances for Liechtenstein, making him a prime candidate to pick up another card here at 7/5 on Bet 365.
Predicted line-ups
Ronan Kpakio has been handed his first call up to the senior squad for Wales’ upcoming qualifiers, however Aaron Ramsey misses out through injury, while Joe Allen retired from football at the end of the domestic season.
Liam Kranz, Marcel Buchel, Martin Marxer and Sandro Wolfinger have not been included in Liechtenstein’s squad for Friday’s clash with Wales, as well as Monday’s friendly with Scotland.
Wales: Darlow; Williams, Rodon, Mepham, Davis; Ampadu, J. James; D. James, Brooks, Wilson; Johnson
Liechtenstein: Buchel; Traber, Wieser, Oberwaditzer; Kindle, Luchinger, Hasler, Sele, Hofer; Pizzi, Salanovic
Anything else catch the eye?
As already mentioned, Wales have triumphed in each of their previous three meetings with Liechtenstein, keeping a clean sheet in each of those respective victories.
With a Welsh win and a clean sheet too short to support here, including Under 4.5 Wales Goals will boost the odds to an eye-catching even-money (1/1) via the Boylesports Bet Builder tool.
This selection would have paid out in each of Liechtenstein’s opening two Group J defeats, and the same formulae looks worthy of support in the Welsh capital on Friday night.
GambleAware