Italy v Albania Predictions | 13/1 Bet Builder, Expert Tips & Latest Odds (Euro 2024)
- Written by David Bet
Reigning champions Italy start the defense of their European crown on Saturday evening as they take on Albania in Dortmund. Check out here our Italy vs Albania betting preview with predictions, winning tips, probable line-ups, team news, how to watch the match, odds and bookie offers!
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How to watch Italy v Albania
The match is scheduled for a 8pm BST kick-off on Thursday, June 15, 2024.
Italy vs Albania will be televised on ITV for free. This match will be shown on BBC One, and can be streamed via the iPlayer and BBC Sport website (both free with a subscription). Coverage starts at 7.20pm.
Italy vs Albania Betting Preview
Italy are back on the pitch with the arduous task of defending the continental title won three years ago at Wembley. The Azzurri have been drawn in Group B, already nicknamed the Group of Death, which also includes Spain and Croatia. It will be essential, therefore, to start strong right away.Italy will have to put the difficulties of recent months behind them: last November they miracolously drew 0-0 against Ukraine courtesy of a referee mistake in the final minute of the game, and qualified thanks to the head-to-head record in their favour: Ukraine finished level on points with the Azzurri despite having played all the home qualifiers in Germany because of the war.
In the two warm-up friendlies, the Italian national team only manage a goalless draw against Turkey at the Stadio Dall'Ara in Bologna on 4 June and, five days later, beat Bosnia 1-0 at the Stadio Castellani in Empoli (Italy).
Albania, on the other hand, qualified for Euro 2024 as the winners of a qualifying group that contained the Czech Republic, Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands. The Albanian national team scored 12 goals and conceded only 4, demonstrating surprising defensive solidity.
Since Sylvinho took charge of the team in January 2023, Albania have improved a lot and have shown it in the Nations League against teams to whom they systematically lost until a few years ago.
The Albanians lost both friendlies last March (3-0 against Chile and 1-0 against Sweden) but beat Liechtenstein (3-0) and Azerbaijan (3-1) in the two Euro 2024 preparation matches at the beginning of June.
In their football history, there have been four previous meetings between Italy and Albania with a balance so far clearly in favour of the Azzurri: 4 wins out of 4. The last time around, the two teams faced each other in a friendly match on November 16, 2022 in Tirana. In that game, Roberto Mancini's Italy prevailed with a result of 3-1. Vincenzo Grifo (with a brace) and Giovanni Di Lorenzo were the scorers for the Azzurri.
Best Odds
Italy are heavy favourites to win this clash (2/5 with Copybet). BetMGM offer 4/1 for the draw while "Albania to win" is backable at 10/1 with Midnite.Probable Line-Ups
Italy (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella; Pellegrini, Frattesi, Chiesa; Scamacca
Spalletti has tried a three-man defence in recent friendlies but could revert to a 4-2-3-1 for this match. In attack, Gianluca Scamacca should get the nod over Mateo Retegui with Enrico Chiesa, Davide Frattesi and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. In midfield, Nicolò Barella seems recovered and ready to partner the playmaker Jorginho. In defence, Gianluca Mancini is favoured over Riccardo Calafiori for a centre-back berth alongside Alessandro Bastoni. On the wings, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco will be the starters. The only one in doubt is Nicolò Fagioli due to a physical problem.
Albania (4-2-3-1): Berisha; Mitaj, Djimsiti, Ismajli, Hysaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Bajrami, Seferi, Asani; Broja
Sylvinho will line up his team in a 4-3-3 formation in which Armando Broja, Chelsea's centre-forward also followed by Italian clubs, will be Italy's enemy number one. Alongside him will be Taulant Seferi and Jasir Asani, favorites over Arber Hoxha. In midfield and defence, there will be many players who play in the Italian Serie A: Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo), Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan) and Ylber Ramadani (Lecce) will make up the starting trio in the middle of the park, while Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta) and Elseid Hysaj (Napoli and Lazio) will be part of the back quartet together with Mario Mitaj and Ardian Ismajli (Empoli).
Italy v Albania Predictions
Spalletti's team, as in 2021, does not start among the tournament favorites (as you can see in our EUro 2024 outright winner guide here). Looking at all the young players named in the squad, the feeling is that Italy will use this tournament as preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, looking at the starting eleven of the two teams, there should be no competition: Italy is definitely superior in every single role.
We don't expect a walk in the park, but in the end Italy should win the game, probably without conceding a goal.
1-0 and 2-0 are the correct scores we recommend. As for the possibile goalscorers, keep an eye on Davide Frattesi and Gianluca Scamacca, surely the best players in the friendly against Bosnia.
Italy v Albania Bet Builder Tips
Our analysts have carefully analysed critical data (including shots, cards, corner kicks, and completed passes, among other things). Their meticulously researched bet builder can be found below. With enticing 19/2 with BetMGM, undoubtedly one of our preferred bet builder sites, it presents a rewarding opportunity.
Italy v Albania Bet Builder
- Italy to win
- Davide Frattesi over 0.5 shots on target
- Gianluca Scamacca over 1.5 shots on target
- Elseid Hysaj over 1.5 fouls committed
13/1
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BBC pundit Chris Sutton is providing Euro 2024 predictions on every single match of the tournament. Check below Chris Sutton's Predictions.
