Italy vs Malta Match Analysis & Prediction
14/10/2023 9:45 pm
Seeking successive wins to cut the gap to Group C leaders England down to three points, Italy host already-eliminated Malta at the Stadio Comunale San Nicola on Saturday.
The Azzurri claimed a 2-1 victory over Ukraine in their most recent Euro 2024 qualifying match, while their bottom-placed visitors were comfortable beaten by North Macedonia in a 2-0 defeat.
With their Euro 2020 final opponents taking a brief break from competitive action to face Australia in a friendly, Italy can pile the pressure on England heading into next Tuesday’s Wembley reunion, and steady progress has been made under Scudetto-winning coach Luciano Spalletti.
All of Italy, Ukraine and North Macedonia sit on seven points in the group – with the unbeaten England riding off into the sunset with 13 – but owing to their recent Nations League exertions, where they overcame the Netherlands in the third-placed playoff, the Azzurri have a game in hand on all the sides around them.
March’s home defeat to England incredibly represents Italy’s only loss from their last 44 European Championship qualifying matches, and not since a goalless draw with Northern Ireland in 2010 have the reigning champions failed to score at this stage.
Malta’s agonising wait for a first major tournament appearance is now guaranteed to go on, as the team managed by Italian native Michele Marcolini were consigned to their fate by North Macedonia, who scored through Eljif Elmas and Jovan Manev on matchday five.
The world’s 171st-ranked nation remain bottom of Group C without a single point to their name – as well as just one goal to show for their efforts – and they can officially no longer finish any higher than third.
Italy vs. Malta Head to head
Italy have won each of the nine previous meetings between these two teams, scoring 23 goals while conceding just two.
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11/09/2012Italy2Malta0UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
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26/03/2013Malta0Italy2UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
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13/10/2014Malta0Italy1Euros Qualifiers
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03/09/2015Italy1Malta0Euros Qualifiers
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26/03/2023Malta0Italy2Euros Qualifiers
Italy Team News
Spalletti could be tempted to tinker with his options this weekend, especially with Gianluca Scanacca still working his way back to full fitness and Federico Chiesa withdrawing on Friday.
Mattia Zaccagni and 17-goal striker Ciro Immobile are unavailable this month, with the former pulling out of the squad alongside uncapped Lazio goalkeeper and Champions League goalscorer Ivan Provedel.
Italy's Last 5 Matches
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26/03/2023Malta0Italy2Euros Qualifiers
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15/06/2023Spain2Italy1UEFA Nations League
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18/06/2023Netherlands2Italy3UEFA Nations League
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09/09/2023North Macedonia1Italy1Euros Qualifiers
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12/09/2023Italy2Ukraine1Euros Qualifiers
Malta Team News
Reims hotshot Teddy Teuma – who has four goals and two assists to show from his opening eight matches in Ligue 1 – is out of contention alongside Notts County’s Jodi Jones due to injury.
Captain Steve Borg was booked for the third time in Group C during September’s defeat to North Macedonia and will miss this match through suspension.
Malta's Last 5 Matches
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09/06/2023Luxembourg0Malta1Friendlies
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16/06/2023Malta0England4Euros Qualifiers
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19/06/2023Ukraine1Malta0Euros Qualifiers
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06/09/2023Malta1Gibraltar0Friendlies
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12/09/2023Malta0North Macedonia2Euros Qualifiers
Italy vs. Malta: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Handicap Malta (+3.5): Yes
Best Odds
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