Bosnia & Herzegovina Vs Italy
Bosnia & Herzegovina Vs Italy Wednesday 18th November 2020 – 19:45 Kick-off
UEFA Nations League Group A1
Pick: Italy Win to Nil
Odds: 7/5
Bookmaker: PaddyPower
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 16th November 2020)
Preview: Victory at Stadion Grbavica, Sarajevo, would confirm Italy as winners of Group A1 and they are firm favourites to do precisely that away to Bosnia. The hosts, meanwhile, have nothing to play for in this final fixture with their relegation already sealed following a winless campaign to date.
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Table of Contents
Bosnia Preview – Lack of firepower hampered Nations League chances?
With relegation into League B confirmed in the aftermath of last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat in the Netherlands, it now becomes a question of motivation for this Bosnian (D2 L3) side. Considering that just two out of a possible fifteen points have been registered thus far, it does seem a stretch envisaging them denying Italy top spot. Then again, they did earn a surprise 1-1 draw away to this same opposition on Matchday 1.
Perhaps had their all-time leading goalscorer, Edin Dzeko, been available last time out the outcome might have been different. Bosnia certainly had their chances in Holland, but were hopelessly poor in the defensive third, falling 2-0 behind inside the opening fifteen minutes having also seen a third disallowed midway through the first-half. There was at least a maiden international goal for Smail Prevljak.
Bosnia have now gone seven without victory (D3 L4), even succumbing here in Sarajevo a week earlier to Iran in a friendly. So these are undoubtedly troubling times under head coach Dusan Bajevic, who has seen his team now fail to muster more than a single goal in seven straight games. This includes the last five on home soil (D2 L3) where, in this group, they drew with the Netherlands (0-0) but lost to Poland (1-2).
Italy Preview – Undermanned Azzurri can still grind out win needed?
A makeshift Italian side that was even without head coach Roberto Mancini, who is currently undergoing self-isolation, performed perhaps even better than many people expected in Sunday’s Nations League encounter inside Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium. Goals from Jorginho and Domenico Berardi, the former a trademark penalty, sealing an important 2-0 win over promotion rivals Poland.
Italy (W2 D3) now come into Wednesday’s final Group A1 fixture in pole position, perched a point clear of the Netherlands. The Dutch must win in Poland, who are a point further back and can still claim top spot themselves, to have any chance of usurping the Azzurri. Yet everything becomes relatively meaningless should the Italians oblige away at Bosnia, with the latter’s demotion already confirmed ahead of kick-off.
Victory over the Bosnians would certainly atone for dropping points in the reverse encounter, when Stefano Sensi rescued a point for the home side in Florence. It would also extend their unbeaten run outside of Italy to eight, having won six consecutive away matches prior to last month’s goalless stalemate in Gdansk with Poland. They haven’t conceded a goal, meanwhile, in any of the last four said matches.
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Bosnia Vs Italy Betting Advice
There is little more than cliched pride on the line for Bosnia as they prepare for a match-up which has no bearing at all on where they finish in this group. Wednesday’s hosts will finish fourth, and thus return to League B, regardless of the result at home to Italy. The latter, on the other hand, desperately need all three points in order to conclude their Nations League campaign as group winners.
Bosnia Vs Italy – Key Facts:
- Seven games without a win now for Bosnia, who sit bottom of Group A1 having taken only two points from five matches (D2 L3).
- Six wins from their last seven away internationals for Italy, who go into the final round a point clear (W2 D3) and needing to win to guarantee they win the group.
- On their only previous visit to Bosnia, for a Euro 2020 qualifier in November 2019, Italy ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Bosnia have not scored in three of their last four contests, having done so only twice across their last five at home, and are once again missing top scorer Edin Dzeko. This should be reasonably straightforward, therefore, for Italy. The latter seeking a seventh away win in eight, despite being without a host of key players themselves. Moreover, the Italians haven’t conceded across any of their past four away fixtures (W3 D1).
Best Betting Odds – Bosnia Vs Italy
Bosnia – 15/2 (Bet365)
Draw – 4/1 (Betfair)
Italy – 4/11 (PaddyPower)
