This is one of the banker games for Friday, at least to me, and I feel that ever sports bettor should consider it. There were times, when the Bulgaria team had no trouble against Wales but that was some 16 years ago.
The most recent games ended 0:0 in Wales and 0:1 in Bulgaria, with a victory for Wales. Now both teams have to meet in this qualification group, where Bulgaria has still 0 points out of two games, while Wales has 0, but only from 1 matched played.
Bulgaria, was expected to lose on Wembley against the leader England, but tripped surprisingly against Montenegro at home losing with 0:1. Wales, had a visit on Montenegro and lost with 0:1 as well.
In their last 6 international games Bulgaria recorded 5 losses and 1 draw, under the lead of their old manager Stanimir Stoilov. Since the last loss against Montenegro, he was sacked, and Lothar Matthäus the German legend was hired. Although he was a great football player, his coaching career isn’t that good. Most of the teams he was manager of at some point kicked him out, which doesn’t speak well.
Simply put, I expect no miracles on Friday, where Bulgaria will continue to perform as low as before. Here’s some statistics about the two teams before the game:
* Wales’s record in six games against Bulgaria reads W2 D1 L3 (W1 D1 L1 at home).
* Wales have not beaten Bulgaria in three competitive outings since their first encounter in Wrexham on 27 April 1983, when the only goal of Jeremy Charles’s international career gave the Dragons a 1-0 UEFA European Championship qualifying win.
* Recent friendly meetings have nonetheless favoured Wales: the sides drew 0-0 in Swansea on 15 August 2006, before Freddy Eastwood scored a superb effort from 20 metres out on his international debut to give John Toshack’s men a 1-0 victory in Burgas on 22 August 2007.
* Bulgaria’s only previous outing in Cardiff, on 14 December 1994, ended with them earning their best result against Wales: Trifon Ivanov, Emil Kostadinov and Hristo Stoitchkov all found the net to secure a 3-0 EURO ’96 qualifying win.
The Betting Verdict?
Wales to win @ 2.76 (Switch to Betfair.com – 25£ loss cover on your first bet): Although the bookmakers think this game is a 3 ways game, the only outcome I can see here is a home win for Wales. The team needs the 3 points, and Bulgaria is in such a bad shape, that would be a miracle if they are able to pull a draw here.
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