Portugal vs Italy
The champions of Europe against the rebuilding Azzurri – this should prove good entertainment for a Monday night in September.
Not all the star names will be in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon – including Italian football’s new poster boy Cristiano Ronaldo – but there will be plenty of talent on show.
Talking Points
The Italians opened their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 1-1 home draw with Poland after new Chelsea signing Jorginho netted a second-half leveller from the penalty spot.
Already midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura has called upon his team-mates to up their ‘concentration’ levels after their performance in the Stadio Dall’Ara did not go down too well with either the Italian fans nor the often-demanding media.
Receiving much of the criticism has been striker Mario Balotelli, now playing under new boss Roberto Mancini for the third time in his career (after Inter Milan and Man City).
Whether he had an injury as reported or not, the decision to play a player locked in a dispute with his club side, Nice, in Ligue 1 and lacking in match fitness bemused many.
The controversial frontman is certainly a doubt for this fixture with Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile likely to get the nod in the starting line-up.
Federico Chiesa, who earned the penalty against Poland after arriving as a substitute, will also be in contention to start.
Centre-back Giorgio Chiellini has hinted that the Italian national team needs time to ‘construct a new identity’ after a hard two years which saw them miss out on a place at this summer’s World Cup and Gian Piero Ventura replaced by Mancini.
Yet SBOBET followers know time is a precious commodity not often afforded in modern day football.
The mood in the Portuguese camp seems generally more positive, even without the rested Ronaldo.
This is a young team built around the spine of some of their Euro 2016 stars combined with a new group of young players – including Sergio Oliveira and Gedson Fernandes – which coach Fernando Santos has called ‘the beginning of a new cycle’ which ends at Euro 2020 when they hope to defend their title.
Portugal may have been knocked out in the last 16 of the World Cup, but they produced some of the tournament’s best moments and have plenty of goodwill left among their followers unlike, it would seem, the Italians.
That their proud footballing nation failed to make it to the biggest international stage of all – after only ever once failing to qualify before – was unforgivable in some Italian eyes.
They will be without Paris St Germain’s Marco Verratti due to a thigh injury, while as well as world number one Ronaldo – who asked to be rested so he could stay with his new club side Juventus and focus on making an impact with them – Portugal have no Joao Moutinho nor Ricardo Quaresma.
Some of the regular personnel may be different, but it matters little. This still has all the credentials to produce some memorable UEFA Nations League 2018 highlights.
History
They last met in the summer of 2015.
That friendly in Geneva was decided by a goal from the unheralded Eder who, little over a year later, would crown Portugal as European Champions and cap a rag-to-riches individual story.
It was also their first triumph over the Italians in 11 meetings, a run stretching back to 1976 after Italy had run out winners in 10 successive games spanning 39 years.
Indeed, only twice since 1928 had Portugal previously defeated the Italians, and only one of their 24 meetings has ended in a draw.
Portugal have managed only two wins in their last nine matches in all competitions.
Italy have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions.
If centre-back Pepe, who scored in their 1-1 draw against Croatia last week, plays against the Italians, he will be earning his 101st cap. He is almost certain to skipper the side again in the absence of CR7.
Betting Tip
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Portugal vs Italy | 1X2 Draw @ 3.00 |
| September 11, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
So it’s about time they drew, isn’t it?
The UEFA Nations 2018 betting odds favour the hosts with Portugal 1X2 priced @ 2.24 and Italy 1X2 @ 3.20.
Asian Handicap betting offers a tempting -0.50 Portugal @ 2.25, and Italy + 0.25 @ 1.98.
A low-scoring encounter may well be likely, and attractive odds of total goal 0-1 @ 2.28 have a distinct appeal.
A 0-0 draw will pay out @ 6.00 and a 1-1 draw @ 5.20.
| A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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