Euro 2012 Qualifiers: Bulgaria v Wales Odds and Betting Preview

SOFIA, BULGARIA – Bulgaria host Wales in their final Euro 2012 qualifying fixture on Tuesday. Neither side is capable of qualifying at this stage, as Bulgaria are currently bottom of Group G, with Wales only one point ahead of them. Both sides, however, will consider it a matter of the utmost pride to ensure that they do not finish bottom of the group, and Tuesday's encounter can therefore be relied upon to be hard-fought and dramatic.

Bulgaria will be playing with the advantage of a passionate home crowd, and therefore start the match as favourites to win at evens with Victor Chandler. Wales, on the other hand, can be backed to secure three points at 3/1 (bet £1 to make £3 profit) with Stan James, whilst the draw is on offer at 12/5 with Coral and Skybet.

Bulgaria will be bolstered by the return of midfielder Blagoy Georgiev, who sat out Friday's friendly loss against Ukraine on the bench. Mihail Madanski's side, however, will be conspicuously without Dimitar Berbatov, who retired from international football at the beginning of the Euro qualifying campaign. In the absence of this attacking maestro Bulgaria have lacked fire-power up front, scoring only three goals in their seven qualifying fixtures.

Wales will have the optional luxury of starting an unchanged side from the XI who beat Switzerland 2-0 at home in their last match. Head coach Gary Speed will most likely play the same 4-2-3-1 formation, with dynamic attacking trio Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey playing behind lone-striker Steve Morison. Although they cannot qualify, Gary Speed will be urging the Welsh side to finish their qualifying campaign on a positive note with a win against Bulgaria.

In the absence of Dimitar Berbatov, Sporting CP striker Valeri Bojinov is favoured to score first on Tuesday at 11/2 with Boylesports. Bojinov's strike partner Dimitar Rangelo is also thought likely to open the scoring, and can be backd to do so at 7/1 with Skybet. For those punters who think that a Welsh player will break the deadlock, the bookmakers favourite is currently Craig Bellamy, who can be backed to do so at 8/1 with Ladbrokes.

Bulgaria are quoted at best odds of 12/5 with Ladbrokes to win the match after leading at half time, whilst draw/Bulgaria is on offer at 4/1 with William Hill. Draw/Wales is currently available at best odds of 8/1 with Stan James, whilst those punters who think that Wales will win the match after trailing at half time can back Bulgaria/Wales at much longer odds of 40/1 with Bet365.

Kick off is at 19.05 BST

Bulgaria v Wales Betting