Wales play host to the Republic of Ireland in what could be termed as a ‘Home Nations’ clash in this upcoming League B Group 4 encounter at the Principality Stadium on Sunday evening with the hosts looking to extend their lead at the top of the group.
The Welsh sit top of the group with a single-point margin over 2nd placed Finland as Ryan Giggs’s side still remain unbeaten in their Nations League campaign, thanks to recording wins against Finland and Bulgaria - the latter being wins home and away.
📺 Take a look Inside Training today as goalkeepers @RandzOfficial, @marktravers40, Caoimhín Kelleher and Coach @Keepingskills show the pace, the power, the reflexes and the skill required to be an elite goalkeeper#COYBIG | #ENGIRL pic.twitter.com/2zi0L8kpTM— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 10, 2020
📺 Take a look Inside Training today as goalkeepers @RandzOfficial, @marktravers40, Caoimhín Kelleher and Coach @Keepingskills show the pace, the power, the reflexes and the skill required to be an elite goalkeeper#COYBIG | #ENGIRL pic.twitter.com/2zi0L8kpTM
With Finland playing bottom placed Bulgaria albeit away from home, Wales will no doubt be keen to pick up another three points in this clash against the Irish but the hosts may not get things all their own way as three out of the previous six meetings between the two nations have ended in stalemate.
Nevertheless, Wales have suffered just the one defeat out of their last 11 matches in all competitions which came in the shape of a 3-0 loss away from home at England, while at home they’re unbeaten in their last seven matches overall.
It looks like being a straight foot-race between second from bottom nation, Republic of Ireland, and basement dwellers, Bulgaria, to avoid relegation down to League C with just one point separating the two nations prior to this next round of group fixtures in the Nations League.
Recent form and results though seem to be against the Irish as the visitors have failed to win any of their last six matches in all competitions which include defeats against Finland (home and away) and Slovakia, although they’ve also drawn three of these last six with draws against Denmark, Bulgaria and Wales, the latter being at home.
Republic of Ireland’s only win out of their last nine matches came in the form of a 3-1 home win against New Zealand November of last year.
While on their travels, Stephen Kenny’s side have managed to pick up just one win out of their last 13 matches overall, which was at minnows, Gibraltar, in a narrow 1-0 win.
Six of these last 13 away matches have ended in stalemate though, so the prospects of a draw do seem to be reasonable in this clash away to Wales.