With the World Cup looming, it is around this time where the race for qualification really hots up. As thins stand, with six matches gone, if either of Austria or Wales have serious ambitions of featuring in Russia next summer then they need to get their skates on. With four matches to play, the pair are locked together on eight points and sit four points behind 2nd place Ireland. With this in mind, it’s fair to say that this really is a must win game for both.
With the way the group is currently set up, keeping in mind the fixtures that are left to come, there is still hope for both of these two sides, but a win here would put the victors in a strong position. When the pair met in reverse fixture, back in October last year, the goals arrived and, what with both chasing a win here, that could be the case again. The two bets that stand out, especially at the prices on offer, are ‘Both Teams to Score’ and ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ .
During the reverse fixture, even not a game that was overly littered with clear-cut chances, it was pretty clear that both teams fancied themselves and thus plenty of attacking effort was put in. Though, the defending of both was fairly poor. On that evidence, it’s easy to see both thriving going forward, but also faltering defensively, in this fixture. What’s more, the pair boast pleasing scoring records in their respective home and away matches. Wales have scored in all three of their home matches in qualifying so far, though, they’ve managed to keep a clean sheet in just one of those. What’s more, Chris Coleman’s side have scored at least once in nine of their last ten World Cup qualifying home matches. Although, again, they’ve conceded at least once in six of those. Similarly, Austria have scored at least once in all three of their away qualifying matches so far, they’ve also conceded at least once in each of those three. The Austrians have also managed to find the net in eight of their last ten World Cup qualifiers on the road, but, like the hosts, they’ve been unable to prevent the opposition from doing the same in a large portion of those. Eight to be exact.
Interestingly, both teams have scored in 83% of this pair’s respective home and away matches during this qualifying campaign, as well as in 65% of their last 20 combined home and away World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Goals have been a regular occurrence for both of these two teams during qualifying so far and, what with both really needing to go for the win here, they’re unlikely to stop arriving now. There will be no shortage of attacking talent on show for either side and, more importantly, there should be absolutely no shortage of attacking intent. The time is now for both teams if they’re keen on making it through to the finals in Russia next summer and so an attacking, open encounter is expected to unfold in Cardiff on Saturday night.
Click here to read more World Cup Qualifying tips.