Preview: Italy vs Moldova - Staff Information, Line-ups & Prediction

Although we’re nonetheless within the early stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, four-time world champions Italy already don’t have any margin for error. Monday’s residence conflict towards continental minnows Moldova is a textbook definition of a must-win affair for Gli Azzurri.

Head coach Luciano Spalletti couldn’t have hoped for a worse technique to kick issues off in Group I as Norway trounced his out-of-sorts facet 3-0 in Oslo a couple of days in the past. With solely the winners of this part qualifying mechanically for subsequent summer season’s event, Italy can’t afford one other slip-up.

Nevertheless, the loss in Norway already proved deadly to the previous Napoli head-coach, who was relieved of his duties by the Italian Soccer Affiliation. Tomorrow’s sport on the Mapei Stadium can be Italy’s final with Spalletti in cost, because the Soccer Affiliation is already searching for a substitute.

Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium ought to type an ideal backdrop for the Italians’ return to the win column for the primary time since November. Certainly, they’ve received their final two World Cup qualifiers in Emilia-Romagna with out conceding. Moreover, they’re up towards a facet they’ve defeated in all 5 earlier conferences.

Moldova’s pursuit of a first-ever World Cup qualification as an unbiased nation has been off to a humiliating begin, as anticipated. Serghei Cleșcenco’s costs kicked off proceedings in Group I with a disastrous 5-0 residence defeat to Norway earlier than slumping to a 3-2 defeat to Estonia after falling a person down within the fifth minute.

Nailed to the underside of the standings, Moldova can’t realistically hope to submit their first win in World Cup qualifying since October 2013. Nevertheless, they could nonetheless give Italy a run for his or her cash, though a 2-0 pleasant loss to Poland on Friday suggests in any other case.

Match Preview

Italy

Friday’s fiasco in Scandinavia prolonged Italy’s winless streak to 4 matches (D1, L3), placing the ultimate nail in Spalletti’s coffin. Something apart from a landslide victory towards Moldova can be a catastrophe for Italy however the omens look promising for the hosts.

They’ve received all 5 conferences with the Tricolours since their first encounter in 1996, scoring a median of three targets per sport. That’s largely due to a 6-0 rout of their most up-to-date conflict in October 2020, although that fixture had a pleasant character.

Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless encouraging, particularly contemplating Italy’s final two defeats got here at residence, albeit standing on the other facet had been groups from FIFA’s prime ten. North Macedonia don’t fall into this class, but they inflicted Italy’s final residence defeat in World Cup qualifying, beating Gli Azzurri in a 2022 one-off playoff tie.

Regardless of all of the struggles, the Italians have been enjoyable to observe. Eight of their final 9 video games have featured 3+ targets, highlighting the potential for an enthralling contest. Nothing much less will do for the Azzurri after FIGC President Gabriele Gravina deemed Italy’s calamitous efficiency on the Ullevaal Stadium ‘unacceptable’ by way of Eurosport.

Moldova

Until the guests can defy their well-documented defensive woes, followers in attendance ought to be in for a deal with. The Moldovans have conceded ten targets in three internationals this calendar 12 months, capitulating a number of occasions in every fixture. That’s ominously been the case in 4 of their 5 earlier matches towards Italy.

Subsequently, their hopes of halting a dismal 22-game winless streak in World Cup qualifying look far-fetched (D3, L19). Including to this sentiment, the Tricolours have fared disastrously in overseas lands, selecting up only one win on their final seven highway journeys (D2, L4). Furthermore, three of these 4 losses noticed them fail to get on the scoresheet.

Scoring in opposition territory has been a real drawback for Moldova. They final netted multiple purpose in an away sport in October 2022 towards fellow strugglers Latvia. Worryingly, they’ve since gone 11 consecutive away fixtures with out scoring twice, casting additional doubt on their effort to upset the percentages in Emilia-Romagna.

Staff Information

Fiorentina striker Moise Kean and Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli had been the most recent Italy stars to tug out of the squad. Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, and Matteo Gabbia had withdrawn even earlier than Italy’s conflict towards Norway, leaving Spalletti with restricted defensive choices.

Alternatively, Torino teenager Sergiu Perciun might make his official debut for the senior squad after approaching in its place in Moldova’s loss in Poland. However all eyes can be on the nation’s all-time main goalscorer, Ion Nicolaescu, who’s vying for his 18th worldwide purpose.

Italy vs Moldova Potential Beginning Line-ups

Italy (3-5-1-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Ranieri, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori, Retegui.

Moldova (5-4-1): Avram; Platica, Posmac, Baboglo, Mudrac, Reabciuk; Caicamov, Motpan, Rata, Ionita; Nicolaescu.

Italy vs Moldova Prediction

Regardless of Italy’s lackluster type, this ought to be a stroll within the park for the Euro 2020 winners. Spalletti’s facet could search an announcement win to bolster their confidence after a dire Group I begin. Given Moldova’s infamous defensive leaks, this could possibly be a turning level for the Azzurri.

Prediction: Italy to Win