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Squawka / News / Cardiff City vs Wrexham predictions and betting tips: Goals expected in Monday’s Welsh derby

Cardiff City vs Wrexham predictions and betting tips: Goals expected in Monday’s Welsh derby

17 Aug · 20:00 Cardiff City Stadium · Championship
R. Colwill   90 + 8'
K. Moore   3'
  1. Full Time
  2. R. Colwill
    90 + 8'
  3. Isaak Davies on for C. Ashford
    80'
  4. R. Kpakio on for C. Scanlon
    80'
  5. C. Robinson on for A. Robertson
    80'
  6. 75'
    R. Longman on for D. Imray
  7. 75'
    G. Dobson on for M. James
  8. 72'
    D. Keillor-Dunn on for N. Broadhead
  9. 72'
    S. Smith on for K. Moore
  10. 67'
    B. Whiteman on for O. Rathbone
  11. J. Colwill on for C. Willock
    63'
  12. R. Colwill on for O. Tanner
    62'
  13. 54'
    D. Hyam
  14. Half Time
  15. 33'
    K. Moore
  16. 3'
    K. Moore
  17. Kick Off
Momentum
Top Stats
67.2% Possession 32.8%
1 Goals 1
9 Shots 17
3 Shots On Target 7
9 Corners Won 9
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
Shooting
1 Goals 1
9 Total Shots 17
3 Shots On Target 7
Defending
1 Goals Conceded 1
0 Clean sheets 0
Passing
545 Total Passes 263
480 Accurate Passes 206
Possession
67.2% Possession 32.8%
9 Corners 9
Discipline
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
9 Fouls 13
Goals
  • 1
    Cardiff City
    Rubin Colwill
    1
  • 2
    Wrexham
    Kieffer Moore
    1
Shots
  • 1
    Wrexham
    Nathan Broadhead
    4
  • 2
    Wrexham
    Sam Smith
    3
  • 3
    Cardiff City
    Jack Moylan
    3
Tackles Won
  • 1
    Wrexham
    Oliver Rathbone
    3
  • 2
    Cardiff City
    Ollie Tanner
    2
  • 3
    Cardiff City
    Alex Robertson
    2
Assists
  • 1
    Wrexham
    Danny Imray
    1
Chances Created
  • 1
    Wrexham
    Callum Doyle
    3
  • 2
    Cardiff City
    Calum Scanlon
    2
  • 3
    Wrexham
    Lewis O'Brien
    2
Passes Completed
  • 1
    Cardiff City
    Joel Bagan
    78
  • 2
    Cardiff City
    Alex Robertson
    74
  • 3
    Cardiff City
    Perry Ng
    63
Take Ons Completed
  • 1
    Cardiff City
    Cian Ashford
    4
  • 2
    Wrexham
    Nathan Broadhead
    2
  • 3
    Cardiff City
    Chris Willock
    2
Interceptions
  • 1
    Cardiff City
    Calum Scanlon
    3
  • 2
    Wrexham
    Benjamin Whiteman
    2
  • 3
    Cardiff City
    Alex Robertson
    1
01
Trott
23
Scanlon
03
Bagan
04
Osho
38
Ng
18
Robertson
16
Willock
45
Ashford
08
Moylan
11
Tanner
09
Salech
33
Broadhead
19
Moore
14
Thomason
27
O'Brien
37
James
20
Rathbone
30
Imray
02
Doyle
05
Hyam
26
Vyner
22
Patterson
Substitutes
10 Rubin Colwill 
40 Noah Anyadike 
47 Callum Robinson 
27 Joel Colwill 
44 Ronan Kpakio 
14 David Turnbull 
33 Rob Tankiewicz 
30 Harry Tyrer 
39 Isaak Davies 
Substitutes
 Bailey Cadamarteri 11
 Max Cleworth 04
 Ryan Longman 47
 Danny Ward 21
 Sam Smith 28
 Benjamin Whiteman 08
 Davis Keillor-Dunn 07
 George Dobson 15
 Dan Scarr 24

League Standings table is not available yet.

Data provided by

Cardiff City vs Wrexham closes the opening weekend under the Monday night lights, an all-Welsh derby at the Cardiff City Stadium (8pm) with the promoted hosts narrowly favoured.

Cardiff arrive full of confidence after storming out of League One, while Wrexham are now settled Championship regulars after their own remarkable rise. Andy Francis has the best bets, our score prediction and the head-to-head record below.

Premium Tips

Andy expects a lively, goal-filled derby, with Cardiff’s home advantage and momentum just tipping the balance.

Premium TipOddsWhy we’re backing it
Under 4.5 goals and both teams to score
6/5This profile fits the bet well. Both teams scored and conceded freely last season. Wrexham found the net regularly in the Championship but kept only 12 clean sheets in 46 games. Cardiff plundered 90 goals in League One and conceded in almost two thirds of their matches. That points firmly to both teams scoring. The under 4.5 side is just as sound. Cardiff and Wrexham averaged around three goals per game last season, so five-goal thrillers are the exception, not the rule. Their one recent meeting, a 2-1 Cardiff win, landed both halves of this bet.
Sam Smith to score anytime and Liberato Cacace to be booked17/2Sam Smith gives this bet its backbone. He scored eight Championship goals last season despite starting just 16 games, and five of them were headers. That aerial threat should worry a Cardiff defence stepping up from League One. Whenever Smith starts, his record says he scores at a healthy rate. Liberato Cacace is the longshot that stretches the price. He is a full-back in what should be a charged Welsh derby, the kind of game where bookings pile up. Back this one for Smith; treat the Cacace booking as the hopeful extra rather than the anchor.

18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.

How Cardiff City go into the game

Cardiff bounced straight back at the first attempt, finishing second in League One on 91 points with a hugely impressive 90 goals scored. That attacking momentum, allied to the atmosphere of a Welsh derby under the lights, makes them dangerous.

Yousef Salech and Callum Robinson lead the line and will fancy their chances of adding to their tallies. The step back up to the Championship is a test, but on this evidence Cardiff will back themselves to hit the ground running at home.

How Wrexham go into the game

Wrexham are no longer the fairytale newcomers but established Championship performers, finishing seventh last season on 71 points and pushing for the play-offs. They scored 69 goals but also shipped 65, so they rarely play out dull games.

Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith give them a physical, direct threat up front, and the Welsh derby will hold no fear for a side used to punching above its weight. Silencing a fired-up home crowd early will be the aim.

Cardiff City vs Wrexham: 2025-26 by the numbers

Cardiff City vs Wrexham head-to-head

DateHomeScoreAway
28/10/25Wrexham1-2Cardiff City

These sides have rarely crossed paths in recent years, spending long spells in different divisions. Their only recent meeting came in the League Cup last October, when Cardiff won 2-1 at Wrexham, so there is little league form to lean on for Monday’s derby.

Cardiff City vs Wrexham predictions & betting tips

Our PredictionOdds & BookmakerConfidenceWhy We’re Backing It
Cardiff to win13/10⭐⭐⭐Home advantage and promotion momentum in a big derby.
Both teams to score4/7⭐⭐⭐Two attacking sides who rarely keep it tight.
Yousef Salech anytime scorer13/10⭐⭐⭐Cardiff’s main marksman on his Championship return.
Over 2.5 goals8/11⭐⭐Goals look likely in a charged derby.
Cardiff to win 2-117/2⭐⭐Our headline scoreline for a home win with goals.

Cardiff City vs Wrexham score prediction

Wrexham’s Championship experience and physical threat will make them awkward opponents, but Cardiff’s momentum, attacking quality and a passionate home crowd should just carry the day in what promises to be an entertaining derby. We expect goals at both ends and a narrow home win. Score prediction: Cardiff City 2-1 Wrexham.

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