Croatia vs Italy – Match Preview

At Leipzig Stadion, Croatia faces Italy in a pivotal European Championship Group B game on Sunday, June 24th, at 19:00 GMT. Croatia is 4th in the group, holding one point. Italy, in 2nd place with three points, seeks to strengthen their knockout stage chances. Both teams risk an early exit or the chance to advance. Despite the neutral venue, Croatia will try to use any home advantage against the favored Italians.

Croatia – Form

Croatia’s recent home performance has been inconsistent. Their last match, a European Championship game on June 19, 2024, against Albania, ended in a 2-2 draw. Andrej Kramaric and an own goal by Albania’s Klaus Gjasula marked the scoreline. Before this, they won 3-0 against North Macedonia in a friendly. Their defensive strength was evident in their third most recent home game. These results met bookmakers’ expectations, showing Croatia’s stable home form.

Italy – Form

Italy’s recent away form has shown resilience. They faced a 1-0 defeat against Spain in the European Championship on June 20, 2024. An own goal by Riccardo Calafiori decided the match. Before this, they achieved a 2-1 victory over Albania. A friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina saw them win 1-0, thanks to Davide Frattesi. These outcomes, aligning with predictions, display Italy’s solid but vulnerable side.

Croatia – Italy – Head to Head

The teams last met on June 12, 2015, ending in a 1:1 draw in the European Championship. In their past 10 matches, Croatia won twice, and the rest were draws, showing Croatia’s slight edge. The last three encounters saw goals from both teams. Notably, Croatia has not lost to Italy in their last five matches, with less than 2.5 goals in the last four meetings.

Croatia – Italy – Standings

As they prepare for their EURO Grp. B match at Leipzig Stadion, the pressure is on. Croatia, at the bottom with one point, faces a challenging game. They have scored 2 and conceded 5 goals. Italy, slightly ahead in 2nd place with 3 points, has a better defensive record, conceding only 2 goals. The odds favor Italy for an away win at 2.35, with Croatia’s odds at 3.20. A win is crucial for both to advance or secure their tournament position.

Croatia vs Italy – Top scorers

Lovro Majer, Croatia’s midfield maestro, has scored four times in the European Championship. Andrej Kramaric, Mario Pasalic, and Bruno Petkovic have also made significant contributions. Luka Modric added a crucial midfield goal. For Italy, Nicolo Barella and Mateo Retegui lead with two goals each. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Alessandro Bastoni have each added a goal. Davide Frattesi’s scoring also highlights the team’s collective effort.

Croatia vs Italy – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers favor Italy with odds of 2.35 for an away win. Croatia, seen as underdogs, have a strong home record, not losing 11 of their last 13 matches. Italy’s consistent performance and fewer injuries may give them an advantage. The history of draws in head-to-head matches, however, could influence the outcome.

Alternative betting markets offer various options. The “halftime-fulltime” and “draw-no-bet” markets provide opportunities for those backing Croatia. The “double-chance” market could appeal to those seeking to minimize the risk of an Italian victory.

Croatia vs Italy – Over/Under Betting

The odds for “Over 2.5” and “Under 2.5” goals are both 1.909, indicating a balanced match. Croatia and Italy’s recent matches suggest a trend towards fewer goals. However, both teams’ ability to score could make “Over 2.5” goals an attractive bet as well.

Croatia vs Italy – BTTS Betting

Odds for “BTTS: Yes” are set at 1.667, indicating a likelihood of both teams scoring. Given the history and recent performances, “BTTS: Yes” appears to be a probable outcome for bettors in this fixture.

Croatia vs Italy – Prediction