Latvia vs Wales predictions: Welsh could claim crucial victory in Riga

James Milton
Spotlight
Rob Page's Wales are hoping to secure a win over Latvia on Monday
Rob Page's Wales are hoping to secure a win over Latvia on Monday

- Latvia have failed to score in 10 of their last 15 European Championship qualifiers 
- Three of Wales's last five victories have been by a 1-0 scoreline 
- Recommended bet: Wales to win 1-0 at 15/4 with LiveScore Bet

Wales started their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw in Croatia and a 1-0 home win over Latvia but back-to-back defeats to Armenia and Turkey in June have set them back.

Both of those losses featured a red card for a Wales player and manager Rob Page will demand a more disciplined display, and three crucial points, in Monday's trip to Latvia.

Wales have found wins hard to come by recently, even before Gareth Bale's retirement, but they are hot favourites to see off Latvia, who have lost all four of their Group D fixtures, including a 5-0 rout by Croatia last Friday.

Team news

Latvia goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors has withdrawn from the squad and Raivis Jurkovskis is also injured. 

Striker Vladislavs Gutkovskis, who scored five times in six Nations League appearances last year, is another absentee so Janis Ikaunieks should be the main threat up front.

Wales are missing injured defender Tom Lockyer and Joe Morrell is suspended after his red card against Turkey in June. 

Jordan James impressed on his first start in last week's friendly draw with South Korea but the teenager is likely to be on the bench on Monday.

The stats

Latvia have lost their last five internationals.

Latvia have conceded the first goal in eight of their last nine games.

The Latvians have failed to score in 10 of their last 15 European Championship qualifiers.

Three of Wales's last five victories have been by a 1-0 scoreline.

Wales have won only two of their last 16 matches.

One or both teams failed to score in five of Wales's last seven games.

Prediction

Wales beat Latvia 1-0 at home in March thanks to a goal from Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore and that correct score is an appealing bet in the return fixture.

Kieffer Moore bagged the winner for Wales against Latvia last time
Kieffer Moore bagged the winner for Wales against Latvia last time

Latvia are at a low ebb after their 5-0 loss to Croatia extended their losing streak to five matches and they allowed the 2018 World Cup runners-up 28 shots at goal.

They should be able to limit the damage against a Wales side who have scored only four goals in five games since the retirement of record scorer Bale.

However, Wales have enough quality to edge a low-scoring contest, with captain Aaron Ramsey back at his boyhood club Cardiff and Tottenham new boy Brennan Johnson playing alongside Moore up front.

Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!

Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!

Tags

LatviaWalesEuropean Championship