North Macedonia vs Italy Match Analysis and Prediction

North Macedonia vs Italy Match Analysis & Prediction

North Macedonia

09/09/2023 9:45 pm

Italy

by Vincent

2 weeks ago 0 21

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

Already playing catch-up in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C, reigning continental champions Italy make the long trip to Skopje to face North Macedonia on Saturday.

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Italy sit outside the top two on account of only playing two matches in the group so far, having suffered Nations League heartache in the most recent round of international fixtures.

A new year brought new hope for North Macedonia, who started 2023 with an opening qualifying victory over Malta before sinking the Faroe Islands in a friendly in March, but a harsh reality check was in store for Blagoja Milevski’s side three months ago.

North Macedonia raced into a two-goal lead against Ukraine in their second Group C match before suffering a remarkable comeback from Sergiy Rebrov’s side, who ran out 3-2 winners before an Old Trafford thrashing at the hands of England, who were in dreamland at the Theatre of Dreams as they crushed Milevski’s side 7-0.

Only San Marino, Gibraltar and Liechtenstein have shipped more goals than North Macedonia’s 11 at this stage of the proceedings, but the hosts can take some solace in the fact that they have not lost three successive Euros qualifiers since October 2015, prior to their finals baptism at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

North Macedonia have also scored in each of their last six Euros home qualifiers, but their 3-2 defeat to Ukraine ended a four-game winning run on their own turf in the preliminary rounds, and only the Faroe Islands have failed to score against Milevski’s side in the past 12 months.

Roberto Mancini may have suffered a bitterly disappointing end to his tenure before being seduced by the riches of Saudi Arabia, but Italy are now in the extremely capable hands of Luciano Spalleti.

During their opening Euro 2024 qualifier, England beat the holders 2-1 in Naples before Italy made amends with a 2-0 victory over Malta on matchday two, but while the Three Lions continued to pull away at the top of the standings in June, the Azzurri were busy gunning for Nations League glory.

There is more than one incetive for Italy to teach North Macedonia a footballing lesson on Saturday, as the Azzurri’s World Cup 2022 qualification dreams came to an end at the hands of Milevski’s side in a 1-0 playoff semi-final defeat, and the famed new manager bounce could help Spalletti’s side on their quest for revenge.

North Macedonia vs. Italy Head to head

In the three previous meetings between these two teams, they have claimed a victory apiece while drawing once.

09/10/2016

North Macedonia

2

Italy

3

UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
06/10/2017

Italy

1

North Macedonia

1

UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
24/03/2022

Italy

0

North Macedonia

1

UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
09/09/2023

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
09/09/2023

North Macedonia

N/A

Italy

N/A

Euros Qualifiers

North Macedonia Team News

North Macedonia defender Visar Musliu missed his side’s defeat to England through suspension, but the Paderborn defender is now available once again.

Captain Stefan Ristovski was left bloodied after a nasty clash of heads with Harry Kane in that game, and while the right-back has since recovered from that collision, he is currently out of the national team picture.

North Macedonia's Last 5 Matches

20/11/2022

North Macedonia

1

Azerbaijan

3

Friendlies
23/03/2023

North Macedonia

2

Malta

1

Euros Qualifiers
27/03/2023

North Macedonia

1

Faroe Islands

0

Friendlies
16/06/2023

North Macedonia

2

Ukraine

3

Euros Qualifiers
19/06/2023

England

7

North Macedonia

0

Euros Qualifiers

Italy Team News

A handful of Euro 2020 heroes in the shape of Leonardo Bonucci, Jorginho and Marco Verratti are nowhere to be seen, while attacking duo Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Scamacca are other notable absentees.

Gianluigi Donnarumma remains the undisputed number one and is set to win his 55th cap at the age of just 24.