Prediction: Italy vs Malta

Prediction: Italy to win and over 3.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Italy and Malta will lock horns with each other in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C this weekend. The match between Luciano Spalletti’s side and Michele Marcolini’s team will be held at Stadio San Nicola in Bari and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm UK time on Saturday.

Italy

Italy are one of the biggest footballing nations in the world who have won the World Cup and the European Championship in the past. Although things have been mixed for Gli Azzurri in recent times, they remain one of the strongest teams around.

Luciano Spalletti’s side are second in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C at the moment with seven points from four matches. Italy are six points behind leaders England and are level on points with Ukraine and North Macedonia, who are third and fourth respectively. However, Ukraine and North Macedonia have played five games each.

Italy kicked off their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C campaign with a 2-1 defeat to England at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples. They bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Malta away from home. Then came a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia away from home and that followed a 2-1 victory over Ukraine at San Siro in Milan.

Team News:

Giacomo Raspadori, Domenico Berardi and Moise Kean could start in attack for Italy. Ciro Immobile and Mattia Zaccagni are injured. Gianluca Scamacca and Federico Chiesa are not fully fit and are likely to be rested against Malta. Matteo Darmian could start at right-back, while Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Mancini will be in defence.

Malta

Malta are one of the weakest teams in the world and do not even come close to qualifying for major international competitions. In fact, for this small European nation, a win or even a goal is something massive. So, there is no surprise that they are already out of the reckoning for the UEFA Euro 2024 finals.

Michele Marcolini’s side are at the foot of UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C with no point from five matches. Malta are 13 points behind leaders England and seven points behind Italy, Ukraine and North Macedonia, who are second, third and fourth respectively.

Malta kicked off their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C campaign with a 2-1 defeat to North Macedonia away from home. Then came a 2-0 loss at the hands of Italy in front of their own fans. Malta subsequently lost against England, Ukraine and North Macedonia.

Team News:

Teddy Teuma and Jodi Jones are injured and will not play for Malta against Italy. Steve Borg is suspended. Jean Borg or Kurt Shaw could replace him in the starting lineup.

Key Factors to Consider

• Italy have scored 6 goals in 4 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C games.
• Italy have conceded 4 goals in 4 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C games.
• Malta have scored 1 goal in 5 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C matches.
• Malta have conceded 11 goals in 5 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C matches.
• Davide Frattesi and Mateo Retegui have scored two goals each for Italy in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group C.

Conclusion

It is hard to see anything but a convincing win for Italy against Malta. Malta are the European minnows, and even without their best players, Italy should be able to pick up all three points from the encounter without much trouble.

Prediction: Italy to win and over 3.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Zetbet