Wales will look to get their first points of their Nations League campaign as they welcome Norway to the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night.
It’s been a tough start in League A Group 4 for Craig Bellamy’s hosts, as they remain pointless and goalless after their first two matches.
The Dragons were beaten 1-0 in Lisbon against reigning Nations League champions Portugal last Thursday, before a Ben Davies own goal and a deflected Gustav Isaksen strike saw them fall to a 2-0 defeat in Copenhagen against Denmark on Sunday.
Following on from their memorable quarter-final run in the World Cup over the summer, Norway opened up their Nations League campaign by edging a five-goal thriller at home to Scandinavian rivals Denmark – helping land my Bet of the Day.
However, Stale Solbakken’s visitors failed to build on that victory, as they lost 1-2 at home to Portugal courtesy of a goal from Milan new boy Goncalo Ramos.
This clash will be the first on home soil for Wales in League A Group 4, whilst this will be Norway’s first venture outside of Oslo.
How the bookies view it: Norway favourites
Norway are favourites to bounce back from their defeat at home to Portugal on Sunday, with bet365 pricing the Lions at 1/2 to leave Cardiff with all three points.
Wales are 21/4 to claim a much-needed three points, whilst the draw is 7/2.
Head to head: Three wins on the spin for Wales?
Meetings between these two nations have tended to be close, with Norway winning four to Wales’ three, whilst the other four clashes ended in draws.
However, the Dragons will take inspiration from the fact that they have won each of the last two head-to-heads in 2008 and 2011 on home soil – albeit both were friendlies.
Players to watch: Red-hot Haaland to score again?
Erling Haaland has extended his exceptional goal-scoring record for Norway to 64 goals in just 56 appearances following a brace against Denmark and a goal against Portugal.
The Manchester City forward is just 2/5 at bet365 to Score Anytime, but combining that with Over 2.5 Goals pays a more backable 4/5.
Predicted line-ups:
Wales are still without Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill, Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is a doubt after picking up an injury in Norway’s defeat to Portugal on Sunday.
Wales: Wales: Ward, Roberts, Mepham, Davies, Williams, Ampadu, Sheehan, D.James, Johnson, Thomas, Moore
Norway: Nyland, Aursnes, Ajer, Heggem, Ryerson, Berge, Berg, Bobb, Schjelderup, Nusa, Haaland
Anything else catch the eye?
Norway’s matches are generally high-scoring, with 20 of their last 25 and 25 of their previous 32 matches going over 2.5 Goals, whilst each of their previous 10 and 13 of their past 14 have produced goals at both ends.
Both Teams to Score has paid out in each of Wales’ last five and six of their past seven internationals in front of their supporters, including in 4/5 (80%) in World Cup qualifying – only keeping a clean sheet against minnows Liechtenstein – with four (80%) of those qualifiers also going Over 2.5 Goals.
Both Teams to Score pays just 4/6, whilst Over 2.5 Goals is even shorter at 4/7, but combining them both pays an appealing 20/21 at bet365.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
GambleAware