Italy vs Netherlands – Preview & Betting Prediction

Ace Football previews the Nations League match between Italy and the Netherlands, and offers the latest betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.

European heavyweights Italy and the Netherlands lock horns on Wednesday evening in Bergamo. The two sides hope to put their goalless draws from last weekend behind them to gain an advantage in Group A1 of the Nations League.

Italy are the current leaders of the group with five points from three games (W1 D2), with the Netherlands a point behind (W1 D1 L1) in second. And should either nation slip up, Poland could bounce. The Eagles sit level on points with the Dutch, albeit behind for conceding more goals.

So aware dropping any points could prove costly for their Nations League campaigns, Italy and the Netherlands will be determined to grab victory.

The last time the two nations met was in Amsterdam last month, where Nicolo Barella’s effort sealed the Italians a slender 1-0 win.

Italy Form & Stats

Roberto Mancini’s side head to Bergamo on the back of a disappointing goalless stalemate in Poland. It was a missed opportunity by all accounts. They were the stronger side in Gdansk, but their wastefulness in front of the goal cost them dear.

On a whole, though, it was a positive performance as Italy boasted 61% of possession and never looked threatened. In fact, the hosts only managed four shots compared to their 16. It’s just a shame they couldn’t convert a single one of their opportunities into a goal. Had that been the case, the Azzurri would hold a healthy three-point in Group A1.

Now Italy are back on home soil, however, we may see a turnaround in goal form. It was only last week, in fact, when the four-time world champions fired six past a helpless Moldova in a friendly.

While their 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions, on top of their superior head-to-head record against the Netherlands, puts them in a favorable position.

Key Team Stats

• Won 13 of their last 15 matches in all competitions.
• Won three of their last six games against the Netherlands (D3).
• On an 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions and haven’t lost at home in 22 matches.
• Under 2.5 goals scored in their last four matches in all competitions.
• Conceded just three goals in their last nine home matches in all competitions.

Netherlands Form & Stats

Frank de Boer’s reign as the successor to Ronald Koeman has hardly got off to a dream start. He’s without a victory in his first two games (D1 L1) and appears to be struggling to pull the squad together.

Sunday’s goalless stalemate at Bosnia piled the already growing pressure on the new Netherlands coach. The Dutch are now winless in their last three games, and haven’t scored a single goal. De Boer, meanwhile, is the third coach in the national team’s history to fail to see a goal in his first two matches, after Danny Blind and Guus Hiddink.

The former Ajax and Inter Milan boss, however, would’ve been more concerned by how his players fared. They lacked a cutting edge in Bosnia in what proved to be a dull 0-0 draw. While there was no questioning their intent, neither side had the quality to do serious damage.

Key Team Stats

• Winless in their last six games against Italy in all competitions (D3 L3) and have only won three times in 22 meetings overall (D8 L11).
• Lost two of their last three games (D1).
• Under 2.5 goals scored in their last four matches in all competitions.
• Failed to score in their last two away games in all competitions.

Team News

Italy: Gaetano Castrovilli (injured); Andrea Belotti (suspended).

Netherlands:  Marten de Roon (suspended).

Predicted Line-ups

(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)

Head-To-Head Record

Match Facts

Betting Tips

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