Wales v Mexico predictions: Stalemate on the cards in Cardiff

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the international friendly between Wales and Mexico on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & S4C, 8pm, Saturday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 13-5 Betfair, Sporting Index

Team news

Wales
Joe Allen is out while Ben Davies, Aaron Ramsey and Tom Lockyer had already pulled out. James Lawrence is unavailable.

Mexico
Record goalscorer Raul Jimenez is still absent.

Match preview

Wales interim boss Rob Page has eyes only for the Czech Republic on Tuesday so will drain the depths of his squad to find a team capable of going toe to toe with Mexico.

Thursday's 3-1 defeat in Belgium was, while fairly predictable, the worst possible start to Welsh hopes of qualifying for Qatar so this Mexican dust-up is at best a glorified training exercise.

Page will, therefore, make changes galore which obviously leaves them vulnerable against a Mexico team which will be strong. This is part one of a double-header for Gerardo Martino's men – they tackle Costa Rica in Austria on Tuesday.

But it's hard to know quite how strong Martino will go or how organised they will look given his side have not played together since November and arrived in Cardiff from all points around the globe.

Statistically at least they are one of world football's in-form sides – they have won 18 of their last 22 internationals, losing only one of those other four.

They are minus Wolves striker Raul Jimenez for the first time – his head injury against Arsenal came after the Mexicans last played an international – and there looks to be a shortage of goals through the camp.

But Wales, lest we forget, are unbeaten at home for over two years and whoever Page picks will want to put themselves in the frame for the Czech assignment.

Friendlies are rarely much fun to get involved with but this low-stakes fixture could well end in a low-key stalemate.

Key stat

Wales are unbeaten in their last ten home internationals.

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