Wales v Albania betting tips: Page may mix it up in Cardiff
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Rob Page got the chance to see how his Wales charges fared against the world champions on Wednesday night but they wrap up their Euro 2020 preparations ahead of their Switzerland opener with a very different kind of test against Albania.
Wales lost 3-0 to France in Paris but played with only 10 men for more than an hour after defender Neco Williams was sent off for a goal-bound handball, although Danny Ward saved Karim Benzema’s penalty.
The Dragons start as 7/10 favourites to win in Cardiff on Saturday but let’s look at some of the other markets and odds in our Wales v Albania betting tips.
Match Odds
Page admitted the game in Paris “was all about getting players minutes on the pitch and ticking that box” after handing a starting role to Joe Allen after two months out injured and sending on Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies in the second half for much-needed game time.
Albania, who lost 2-0 to England in a World Cup qualifier in March, failed to make it to the European Championship, but they beat Wales 1-0 in a friendly towards the end of 2018 and are 9/2 to repeat that win or 10/1 to do so by the same scoreline.
The Albanians were held by Andorra during qualifying but they have won five of their last six matches, including Nations League victories against Belarus and Kazakhstan.
That won’t have Wales shaking in their boots having beaten both Mexico and Czech Republic 1-0 in March and another 1-0 win for the hosts is available at 9/2 or they are 9/4 to win by a one-goal margin.
All three encounters between these teams have produced two goals or fewer and that option is priced at 8/13 or Wales to win by that method is 9/4.
Talking Tactics
Page plans to appeal against the dismissal of Liverpool full-back Williams who will serve a one-match ban otherwise.
The Wales coach had hoped to give Williams more game time against Albania having struggled to get minutes under his belt with the Reds.
Page deployed a 4-4-2 in Paris where Gareth Bale and Daniel James played up top, but could make changes to give his squad a run-out.
Albania matched England’s 4-3-3 system a couple of months ago but bizarrely played a 3-3-3-1 in the 2-0 win in San Marino where Chelsea’s Armando Broja, who spent the season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, started up front.
Goalscorer Odds
Bale is unsurprisingly the 13/5 favourite to break the deadlock or 11/10 to score, having played for an hour in France.
The Real Madrid attacker was replaced by Kieffer Moore who may start on Saturday in front of his home fans and he is 4/1 to get the opener or 7/4 to find the net.
Free-kick specialist Harry Wilson is 9/5 to score, while Juventus midfielder Ramsey is 7/2 having come off the bench in the second half against France.
Bekim Balaj scored the only goal in 2018 and he is 12/1 to get the ball rolling or 5/1 to score, but Barcelona B striker Rey Manaj and Konyaspor forward Sokol Cikalleshi are the favourites at 10/1 and 4/1 in the respective markets.
Match Info
Where: Cardiff City Stadium
When: 17:00, Saturday 5th June
How to watch: Sky Sports/S4C
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
