Wales v Albania predictions: Dragons set for another gritty success

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wales v Albania international friendly on Saturday.

Where to watch

Wales v Albania
Sky Sports Football, 5pm Saturday

Best bets

Wales win & under 2.5 goals
1pt 12-5 bet365

Match preview

Gritty, low-scoring wins have become the norm for Wales under Robert Page and that trend looks likely to continue in a potentially emotional final Euro 2020 warm-up game with Albania.

The Cardiff City Stadium will host 6,500 fans eager to not only see the team depart for that well-known European destination of Baku on a winning note, but to also potentially catch one last glimpse of Gareth Bale wearing the famous red jersey in person.

Having just completed another injury-hit season while on loan at Tottenham, missing 12 games with a variety of ailments, Wales’s all-time leading goalscorer hasn’t ruled out the possibility of retiring from international football after the Euros.

Bale turns 32 in July and with his longevity at the very top of the club game in mind, Welsh football’s greatest player could be on course for a Euro 2020 swansong, especially if they can repeat their semi-finals exploits of Euro 2016.

Eight survivors from the squad that reached the last four remain and Bale and the equally frail Aaron Ramsey are still the stars of the show. But the next generation look ready to make the step up this summer with Dan James, David Brooks and Harry Wilson each enjoying respectable seasons with their clubs.

Wales certainly possess some exciting attacking options, but it is their defence that has been the key to success more often than not recently.

Six of Wales's last seven victories have come by a 1-0 scoreline and another single-goal success would be the perfect tonic to Wednesday's testing encounter with France.

A harsh first-half red card for Neco Williams ended any hopes the visitors had of a famous victory over the reigning world champions and Euro 2020 favourites in Nice, a star-studded Les Bleus side eventually running out comfortable 3-0 winners.

France join England and Belgium as the only sides to have tamed the Dragons in their last 18 internationals, and Albania certainly aren’t at the level of those three, despite some good recent performances.

The Eagles have won five of their last six international outings but the majority of those victories have come against lowly opposition - Edoardo Reja’s side beat Andorra and San Marino in between a defeat to England in March’s World Cup qualifiers.

Before the fixture list eased, Albania had previously failed to score on trips to Turkey, Iceland and Scotland, and they could have a tough time penetrating Wales’s sturdy red wall.

At the other end, the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Etrit Berisha and defender Elseid Hysaj leaves the Albanian defence short of experience. The stage looks set if this is to be Bale’s home finale - the Wales skipper scored six goals in his final six league appearances for Tottenham.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport