Wales v Azerbaijan Betting Tips – UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier, 6th September 19.45pm
Wales and Azerbaijan meet in a vital UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night. Ryan Giggs’ side have plenty of work to do after dropping six points behind leaders Hungary in Group E. However, the Dragons are expected to ease to all three points in the Welsh capital against whipping boys Azerbaijan in Cardiff on Friday.
Wales v Azerbaijan Betting Odds*
Wales 1/4
Draw 17/4
Azerbaijan 12/1
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on September 4th, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.)
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Table of Contents
Wales News and Form – Dragons to roar back to winning ways?
Wales got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign off to a perfect start, beating Slovakia 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium. New Manchester United ace Daniel James scored the only goal of that one. Since then, though, the Dragons have lost back-to-back away games.
Wales put up a brave fight against Croatia on matchday two, but they ultimately failed to come back from a 2-0 deficit, though David Brooks’ late goal made things interesting in the eventual 2-1 reverse at the Stadion Gradski vrt in Osijek.
In their last qualifier, Wales were beaten by Hungary in July. Ryan Giggs’ boys held out until the 80th minute, but Mate Patkai’s goal sealed the points for the Hungarians at the Groupama Arena in Budapest.
Wales still have time on their side, but the Dragons could really do with a win after suffering successive losses. After playing Azerbaijan in Cardiff this Friday, next up for the Welsh is a tough trip to Trnava to face Slovakia in October. At least four points from the next two will suffice for Wales. Can they secure three of those points on Friday night?
Wales v Azerbaijan Head to Head
In 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Wales beat Azerbaijan 1-0 both home and away
The Dragons have won each of the last three meetings
Azerbaijan have never beaten Wales in six attempts, losing five and drawing one
The Azerbaijanis did hold Wales to a 1-1 draw back in September 2004
- Wales have lost their last two
- The Dragons have won just two of their last six (four defeats)
- The Azerbaijanis have lost all three of their qualifiers so far
Azerbaijan News and Form – Can Jurcevic’s boys cause an upset in Cardiff?
Azerbaijan are currently ranked 109th in the FIFA World Rankings, and they head to the Cardiff City Stadium on a five-game winless run. Since beating Faroe Islands 2-0 in a UEFA Nations League matchup back in November, the Azerbaijanis have lost four and drawn one.
In Euro 2020 qualifying, Azerbaijan sit bottom of the group having lost three out of three so far. Nikola Jurcevic’s men kicked off their campaign with a narrow defeat in Croatia. Despite taking the lead against the 2018 FIFA World Cup runners-up, goals either side of half time for the hosts did the business. They followed that up with a 3-1 home loss to Hungary.
In their last qualifier back in June, Azerbaijan were thumped at home by Slovakia. Marek Hamsik was the hero for the Slovakians, scoring twice in the 5-1 rout in Baku. The Azerbaijanis are rock bottom of Group E on zero points from a possible nine.
This was always going to be a tough group for Azerbaijan, but they will be desperate to pick up their first point of the qualifying campaign in Cardiff on Friday. Can the away side upset Wales in their own back yard?
Wales v Azerbaijan Tips & Odds
Wales to win to nil at 4/6
Gareth Bale to score two or more goals at 12/65
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on September 4th, 2019 at 10:33 a.m.)
Wales v Azerbaijan Predictions
Wales win: Having lost two qualifiers in a row, Wales’ Euro 2020 hopes are hanging by a thread. Nothing short of three points will do for the Dragons on Friday, especially as they travel to Trnava to play Slovakia in their next qualifier. The Welsh have a good record at the Cardiff City Stadium, and Giggs’ boys should be too strong for Group E’s bottom club. I can see the home team keeping a clean sheet in Cardiff, so back Wales to win to nil at 4/6.
It’s been a turbulent summer for Real Madrid man Gareth Bale, who was heavily lined with a move away from the Bernabeu Stadium before boss Zinedine Zidane changed his mind. The Welsh wizard has got his head down in Spain and started the season well, scoring two goals in Real’s 2-2 La Liga draw with Villarreal last weekend. Bale is still Wales’ main man, and I like the look of 12/5 for the 30-year-old to score two or more goals in this one.
