UEFA Euro Qualifiers: Italy vs Ukraine Odds
Italy Draw First Match Under Spalletti
Three Points Absolutely Crucial for the Azzurri
Luciano Spalletti’s tenure as Italy’s manager didn’t get off to the best start. The Azzurri drew with North Macedonia 1-1, who was the team that knocked Italy out of the World Cup playoff last year. Ukraine also picked up a draw in their last match, which was all the more impressive because it came vs. group leaders England. As things stand, Ukraine is three points ahead of Italy in the Euro qualifier standings, so it’s crucial Italy grab a win over Ukraine when they meet on Tuesday. We’ll take a look at the Italy vs Ukraine odds for this match at the San Siro.
UEFA Euro Qualifiers
Italy vs Ukraine
Date & Time:
Location: Stadio San Siro, Milan, Italy
Head-to-Head:
Italy and Ukraine have met on eight previous occasions, most recently in 2018. In that October friendly, proceedings finished 1-1 but Ukraine has an 0-2-6 record vs. Italy all-time. They’ve played four UEFA Euro qualifiers games vs. each other and Italy has a perfect 4-0 record in those matches.
Italy’s Rollercoaster Ride Continues
- Standings: 1-1-1, 3rd Group C
- Next Match: Oct. 14 vs. Malta
- Key Injuries/Suspensions: D Gianluca Mancini, M Lorenzo Pellegrini, F Federico Chiesa, F Matteo Politano
The last few years have been a rollercoaster ride for the Italy national team. They won the European championship just over two years ago but missed out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They embarrassingly lost 1-0 to North Macedonia at home in the World Cup playoff semifinal last year.
Italy went on to win their UEFA Nations League group earlier this year and came in third place in the competition. Then, coach Roberto Mancini resigned and made way for former Napoli Scudetto-winning coach Luciano Spalletti.
Italy got their first chance at revenge on North Macedonia on Saturday. It was the Azzurri who struck first, as Ciro Immobile headed in a rebound. However, Gianluigi Donnarumma could not keep out Enis Bardhi’s late free kick and the North Macedonians managed a 1-1 draw in Skopje. So, the Italians are now 1-1-1 and in third place in the UEFA Euro qualifiers standings.
Italy doesn’t have much room for error now and certainly needs all three points when they host Ukraine on Tuesday. The Italy vs Ukraine odds price the Azzurri as -180 favorites and they’ve never lost vs. Ukraine. Mateo Retegui has scored twice in three appearances for Italy but was left on the bench on Saturday. It’ll be interesting to see if Spalletti gives him a chance here. It wouldn’t be surprising if Italy’s midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bryan Cristante, and Nicolo Barella is unchanged but Davide Frattesi could be an x-factor.
Ukraine Grab Important Point
- Standings: 2-1-1, 2nd Group C
- Next Match: Oct 14. Vs. North Macedonia
- Key Injuries/Suspensions: D Eduard Sobol, D Oleksandr Tymchyk, M Mykola Shaparenko
Ukraine didn’t create much in their match vs. England on Saturday but they made the most of their few opportunities. On an impressive offensive break, Oleksandr Zinchenko found the net from a Yukhym Konoplya cross. However, Ukraine conceded soon after as Harry Kane found Kyle Walker. The match finished in a 1-1 draw, which means Ukraine stayed in second place in the Group C standings.
They’ve lost just one of their four Euro qualifiers so far but are yet to take on Italy. Winger Viktor Tsyhankov was a standout vs. England and the Girona man vs. Federico Dimarco could be a key matchup on Tuesday. Zinchenko, who captains the team when Andriy Yarmolenko doesn’t play, is another standout.
The Arsenal man plays left back for his club but is a full-on central midfielder for his country. Zinchenko has excelled at CM with the Blue and Yellow and scored an important goal on Saturday. Notably, Tsyhankov has scored three goals in Ukraine’s last three matches in all competitions, though.
Match Analysis and Odds
Gianluca Mancini and Matteo Politano left Italy’s match at North Macedonia injured. Now, they’re both set to miss out on the match vs. Ukraine. Giorgio Scalvini, the 19-year-old Atalanta center back, could replace Mancini. Meanwhile, any of Giacomo Raspadori, Wilfried Gnonto, and Nicolo Zaniolo could start on the wing.
Regardless, the Italy vs Ukraine odds price the Azzurri as one-goal favorites for this match at -110 odds to cover. The Italians are also -180 favorites and have won four of their last five matches vs. Ukraine. Pressure will mount on Spalletti already if Italy isn’t able to win in his second match in charge. Direct qualification to the Euros becomes much more complicated if they don’t get all three points.
Even a point would be a great result for Ukraine, who are +640 underdogs for the match. Meanwhile, a draw is priced at +350 odds. Ukraine +1 displays -115 odds but the Blue and Yellow have been outscored 15-3 in this fixture all-time. Combined, just two of these teams’ seven Euro qualifying matches have finished with three or more goals. Here, over 2.5 goals sit at -115 odds.
For UEFA Euro betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
