Unibet Predictions:: Belgium – Italy Predictions and Tips | UEFA Nations League
Unibet Predictions: Belgium – Italy Predictions and Tips For Today
Free Daily Soccer Unibet Predictions for Today, November 14, 2024.
Kick-off: 20:45 (GMT+1)
UEFA Nations League – League A – Round 5
EVENT: Belgium – Italy
TIPS: Under 3.5 Goals | Odds: 1.31@Unibet | Result: PENDING
Belgium – Italy Predictions and Preview
- As Belgium looks to move on from its “golden generation,” they’ve faced a tough UEFA Nations League (UNL) cycle. The best they can achieve is a place in a relegation play-off in League A. To keep their slim hopes alive, they need a win, but standing in their way is an Italy side that they haven’t beaten in a competitive international since May 1972 (2 draws, 4 losses).
- Even when considering friendly matches, their record doesn’t get much better (4 wins, 5 draws, 16 losses). However, three of those wins came on home soil. This should provide extra motivation for Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco, who was born in Italy. But he probably won’t need it because his team has won just one of their last six matches in any competition (2 draws, 3 losses). This puts him under pressure for his future.
- Italy travel in good spirits, knowing that a draw is enough to secure their place in the quarter-finals of this UNL cycle after an unbeaten start (3 wins, 1 draw). The only blemish on their record is a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture despite playing over 50 minutes with ten men. However, Luciano Spalletti’s men responded emphatically by thrashing Israel 4-1 to retain their place at the group’s summit.
- The Azzurri are well-positioned to reach the UNL knockout stages for the third consecutive cycle. They’ve only ever lost twice in the league phase of this competition (10 wins, 8 draws). Their strength also extends to the road. Italy have won both away matches in this UNL cycle, notably beating France, part of a streak of four consecutive such victories in this competition.
- Players to watch: With Kevin De Bruyne absent, Romelu Lukaku is the only man still in the Belgium squad who started their last home victory back in November 2015. His current four-match scoring drought for his country is the longest he’s endured since the summer of 2018! He’s scored 85 times for his country, while the entire Italy squad combined has managed just 47. Two of these were scored by Mateo Retegui in their last two UNL fixtures, including their second strike against Belgium last month.
- Hot stat: In Belgium’s last five UNL home matches, both teams scored.