Italy vs Israel Prediction 14.10.2024 | Nations League

• Competition: UEFA Nations League
• Date: Monday, 14th, October 2024
• Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20.45 CEST
• Venue: Bluenergy Stadium - Stadio Friuli (Udine)

Italy will aim for three points to maintain their lead in the group as they host underdogs Israel at Bluenergy Stadium in the fourth round of the UEFA Nations League B on Monday.

While they failed to qualify for the final tournament in 2019, the Italians have since delivered brilliant moments to their loyal supporters by successive reaching bronze finishes, but this time they are determined to capture their first-ever UNL gold medal. To begin with, Luciano Spalletti's team needs to wrap up their group phase in the top two to make it to Paris next summer, yet their qualification efforts indicate they are close, sitting comfortably in the driver's seat with seven points gathered from their initial three games.

On the flip side, Israel have earned the right to compete in the highest tier of the UEFA Nations League for the first time after emerging as unbeaten winners of Group B2 in the previous edition of the tournament. Based on their early results, the Skyblue and Whites seem primed for a swift return to reality in League B this tournament, having gone through their first three matches without earning any points, which has left them anchored at the bottom of the standings, four points behind Belgium in the relegation playoff zone.

Italy vs Israel Betting Tips: BTTS

It is abundantly clear that the Italians are heavily favored to cruise to another three points and maintain their top spot in the group, but we believe there are modest chances for Israel to snag a consolation goal on what will be another tough day for them. While the defense of Gli Azzurri has long been their trademark, they now face significant challenges at the back, as evidenced by their record of no clean sheets in seven consecutive matches across any competition. Opponents Israel have fallen into trouble in recent months, as they have slipped to defeat in five of their last six matches, but they have shown impressive resilience in front of goal by scoring in everyone of their seven competitive fixtures, including all three in the UEFA Nations League campaign. In the reverse fixture earlier in September, the Italians narrowly defeated Israel 2-1, and we hope that Shimon's squad can once again trouble the shaky Italian defense without completely disrupting their plans, as Spalletti's side should validate their authority on the pitch.