Euro 2024: Spain v Italy - Match Preview & Odds
Here at betting.bet we’ll preview this key Group B game, providing the latest team news, expert betting tips and in-depth match insights as well as free bet offers and pre-match odds
Two real European heavyweights meet at Gelsenkirchen on Thursday as three-time European Championship winners Spain go up against reigning champions Italy in a much-anticipated Euro 2024 group stage fixture. Here at betting.bet we’ll preview this key Group B game, providing the latest team news, expert betting tips and in-depth match insights as well as free bet offers and pre-match odds from our partners at Coral.
Match Day One Recap
Spain kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign in impressive style as they eased to a 3-0 win over Croatia in Berlin on Saturday. Spain raced into a three-goal half-time lead with goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal.
Italy also earned three points on match day one but didn’t have it quite as easy as Spain, The Azzurri went 1-0 down after just 23 seconds against Group B minnows Albania. The Euro 2020 champions hit back through goals by Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella and held on to earn a 2-1 win in Dortmund.
Team News
Spain captain Alvaro Morata was forced off midway through the second half of Saturday’s win over Croatia but he has dismissed any fitness concerns and should lead the line for Spain again on Thursday.
Rodri also left the pitch early against Croatia but the Manchester City midfielder has cited fatigue rather than injury as the reason for his early departure. Former clubmate Aymeric Laporte was unavailable on match day one due to a muscle problem but should return to the Spanish bench against Italy.
Nicolo Barella was expected to sit out the win over Albania due to a thigh injury but was fit enough to start the game and subsequently scored the match winner. Barella came through the match unscathed and could line up alongside a fit again Nicolo Fagioli in the Italian midfield.
Predicted Line Ups
Spain: Simon, Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella, Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz, Yamal, Morata, Williams
Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco, Jorginho, Barella, Frattesi, Pellegrini, Chiesa, Scamacca
Spain v Italy: Head-to-Head
Italy defeated Spain on penalties in the Euro 2020 semi-final after the match had finished 1-1 after extra-time. Federico Chiesa had given Italy the lead on the hour before Alvaro Morata equalised ten minutes from time.
Spain have since bounced back to earn back-to-back 2-1 wins over Italy in the UEFA Nations League. The most recent meeting between the nations came twelve months ago in a Nations League semi-final.
Betting Tips
Whilst Italy showed plenty of character to come from a goal down in their opening week win over Albania, Spain look good value for the win in this fixture. The Spaniards looked sharp against Croatia with wide-men Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams particularly impressive. Spain to win is excellent value at 11/10.
A third straight 2-1 win for Spain in this fixture could be the best option at 7/1 in the correct score market whilst Spain to win and both teams to score seems inevitable at 10/3.
Alvaro Morata made a goal-scoring start to Euro 2024 and remains one of the bookies’ favourites to win the Golden Boot despite limping off against Croatia. Morata is excellent value at 29/20 to score at any time on Thursday whilst he is generously priced at 15/4 to open the scoring against Italy.
Despite a rather underwhelming 77 minutes against Albania, we’re prepared to give Juventus and Italy attacker Federico Chiesa another chance in the anytime scorer market. Chiesa scored against Spain in the Nations League last July and is priced at 9/2 to score at any time on Thursday.
Match Odds
| Spain | Draw | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 11/10 | 23/10 | 5/2 |
Predicted Match Result: Spain 2-1 Italy (7/1)
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