Prediction: Poland vs Italy

Prediction: Match to end in a 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 5/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Poland and Italy will lock horns with each other in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League this weekend. The Group A1 game at the Stadion Energa Gdansk in Gdansk will kick off at 7:45pm UK time on Sunday and promises to be an exciting game of football.

Poland

Poland find themselves third in Group A1 with three points from two matches. After losing their opening game of the UEFA Nations League 1-0 to the Netherlands away from home in Amsterdam, Jerzy Brzeczek’s side got the better of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 in Zenica.

Poland will now hope to build on that win and pick up all three points from Italy in their first home game of the tournament. The Eagles will head into the match against the former World Cup winners on the back of a 5-1 hammering of Finland in a friendly international and are in fine form at the moment.

Brzeczek’s side have already booked their place in the European Championship next summer after winning eight of their 10 group matches and won Group G.

Team news:

Robert Lewandowski did not play for Poland in September due to his involvement in the latter stages of the Champions League, which he won with Bayern Munich.

The striker is back in the squad and is likely to start against Poland. Piotr Zielinski, though, is not in the squad after testing positive for coronavirus. West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is set to start between the posts.

Italy

Italy have made a good start to their 2020-21 UEFA Nations League and are at the top of Group A1 at the moment with four points from two matches. Roberto Mancini’s side kicked off their campaign with a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Florence before edging past the Netherlands 1-0 away from home in Amsterdam.

Italy will now aim to build on that win against the Dutch and pick up all three points against an in-form Poland team on the road. The former World Cup winners will head into this weekend’s game on the back of a 6-0 hammering of Moldova in midweek.

Like Poland, Italy have already progressed to the group stage of the European Championship next summer after winning all 10 of their matches. Mancini’s side scored as many as 37 times and they conceded just four goals, as they won their group with ease.

Team news:

Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice for Italy against Moldova in midweek, and the attacker could start against Poland on Sunday.

Both Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are both available for the match for the Italians, while Ciro Immobile is set to lead the line.

Key Factors to Consider

• Italy are at the top of Group A1.
  Poland are third in Group A1.
  Italy won in midweek, and so did Poland.
  Robert Lewandowski has scored 61 goals for Poland.
  Ciro Immobile is the leading scorer in the squad with 10 goals.

Conclusion

While Poland are in great form and will feel very confident after the return of star striker Lewandowski, Italy score goals for fun and are mean at the back. The match could end up bring a scored draw.

Prediction: Match to end in a 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 5/1

Bookmaker: Betfair