Prediction: Wales vs Ireland

Verdict: Gareth Bale to score anytime

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides who are looking to get back on track after failing to make this summers World Cup finals, Ryan Giggs will welcome Ireland to the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night, in his first competitive game in charge. The former Manchester United man will also be glad to see that talisman Gareth Bale is back among his squad.

Wales

Starting with the hosts, a side that are looking to fully begin life post-Chris Coleman’s departure, the 2016 European semi-finalists have turned to former captain Ryan Giggs as the man to help them rebuild. Tasting defeat to Ireland in their final qualifying game, Wales were unable to secure a playoff position, falling behind their visitors on Thursday. During Gigg’s opening friendly matches in charge of the Red Dragons, Gigg’s side have won one, drawn one and lost one. Unsurprisingly, one man to watch for The Reds will be their newly crowned leading goalscorer Gareth Bale. Scoring 29 goals for Wales, the Real Madrid man is enjoying an impressive start to his new La Liga campaign. Missing out on their crucial last two qualifying games, he had to watch his nation miss out on reaching the World Cup and is determined to lead his nation from the front in the inaugural UEFA Nations League. Bale has now scored in each of Madrid’s opening domestic matchups.

Team News

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has also been included in the squad, while Ashley Williams will remain as captain.

There is no place for Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor, while striker Hal Robson-Kanu has retired from international football.

Ireland

As for the visitors, much like Wales, Ireland are a nation looking to rebuild. While they may have edged past Ireland to book their spot in the playoffs, Martin O’Neil’s side were completely outclassed by Christian Eriksen and Denmark. Eventually slumping to a 5-1 loss at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland’s wait to return to a major tournament goes on. While they might be coming off the back of a 2-1 win at USA back in June, ending their four-match winless run, The Greens have been drastically short of form, especially on the road. Losing three of their last four, if Ireland are to turn their fortunes around, O’Neil and assistant Roy Keane will know the importance of improving their form away from Dublin. Along with picking up just one win in their last six matches on the road, Ireland have now failed to find the net in their last three matches away from home.

Team News

Jonathan Walters and Harry Arter were both involved in a heated altercation with assistant manager Roy Keane in June; the former is expected to lead the line in Cardiff, but the latter has not been named in O’Neill’s squad.

Shane Long, Robbie Brady, Scott Hogan, James McCarthy and Sean Maguire are absent through injury.

Key Factors to Consider

• Wales have managed to find the net in their last five home matches on the bounce.
• Five out of the last seven meetings between the two sides have seen under 2.5 goals at full time.
• Earlier in the year Gareth Bale became Wales’ all-time leading goalscorer with 29.
• The visitors saw under three goals in nine of their final 11 matches in the qualifiers.
• Wales have only lost one of their last 11 competitive matches at the Cardiff City Stadium (W6 D4), but that came against Ireland in their last such match in October 2017.

Conclusion

Two nations who are desperate to play their way back into a major competition, Thursday’s National League opener could be a cagey affair. Remarkably, five of the last seven meetings between Ireland and Wales have seen fewer than two goals. However, with Ireland struggling on the road of late and Giggs set to recall his Madrid talisman, the former United man should be confident of getting a win in his first home match in charge. With Ireland conceding nine in their last four, we’re backing Gareth Bale to carry on his impressive start to the new season.

Verdict: Gareth Bale to score anytime

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Bet365