Italy vs Spain: prediction, preview and team news / UEFA Euro 2020
The UEFA Euro 2020 is back with what is arguably its most mouthwatering knock-out clash as Italy lock horns with Spain at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
The two European giants have adopted similar approaches to their game and will have to be at their best to reach the finals of Euro 2020.
Italy, on the other hand, have been one of the most impressive outfits at Euro 2020 so far. Roberto Mancini and his group effectively dispelled all concerns regarding their big-game credentials with a victory against Belgium in the quarterfinals and are now only two matches away from a historic triumph.
Italy have won 25 of their last 29 matches and won to nil in 11 of their last 13 games. They are playing with plenty of confidence.
Spain are undefeated in their last 12 matches. They have won four of those with eight draws.
Spain beat Switzerland in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals. They went ahead through an own goal in the 8th minute, conceded in the 68th minute and couldn’t score against 20 men for the final 43 minutes.
Italy vs Spain Predictions:
- Italy are undefeated in their last 32 matches (all competitions).
- Italy have won 25 of their last 29 matches (all competitions).
- Italy have drawn 7 of their last 14 matches against Spain (all competitions).
- Spain are undefeated in their last 12 matches (all competitions).
- Spain have drawn 8 of their last 12 matches (all competitions).
- Both teams have scored in three of Spain’s last four games.
- These two sides have scored a combined 23 goals at this tournament.
Spain have a marginal historical advantage over Italy as far as the head-to-head record is concerned and have won 12 matches out of a total of 34 games played between the two teams. Italy have managed nine victories against Spain with the other 13 games ending in stalemates.
The previous meeting between the two European heavyweights took place in 2017 and ended in a comfortable 3-0 victory for Spain. Italy did manage to avenge their heartbreak against the Spanish golden generation in the Euro 2012 final with a 2-0 victory four years later at Euro 2016.
Spain have a 13-11 advantage against Italy with 13 draws in 37 matches.
They last met in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The first match in Torino ended in a 1-1 draw before Spain won 3-0 in Madrid.
Italy are the only team to have won all their matches so far at UEFA Euro 2020 and are on a historic unbeaten streak under Roberto Mancini at the moment. The Azzurri’s resurgence has taken the Euros by storm and has been one of the most pertinent talking points of the tournament so far.
Spain have also exceeded expectations this year and have defied their skeptics by pulling off some impressive results at the Euros. Italy have all their bases covered and hold a slight upper hand going into this knock-out fixture.
Our prediction: Italy win @ 2.55
