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Italy v Ukraine tips: Can Azzurri get back on track at last?

| 10.10.2018

Having missed the World Cup for the first time since 1958, Italy are hoping to enter a new era in the years ahead.

But these are difficult times for Gli Azzurri. Roberto Mancini’s men have won just one of their last nine, and tonight host a Ukraine side unbeaten in seven.

It’s only a friendly match, but Italy have collected one point from their opening two UEFA Nations League games. They head to Poland on Sunday, so any momentum here will be welcome.

Match odds

Despite their wobbles of late, Mancini has named a strong squad, and the hosts are odds-on at 8/13 to win in Genoa tonight.

But Ukraine – managed for former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko – will fancy their chances at 9/2. A draw is 12/5.

Talking tactics

Mancini is still developing his tactics with the national team. He went 4-3-3 in last month’s 1-1 draw with Poland, before going 4-4-2 when they travelled to Portugal.

Disappointing performances in both games won’t have helped him figure out which way to go.

There’s no shortage of quality in the side, however. Jorginho will be expected to pull the strings in midfield, with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernadeschi options on the flanks.

Ciro Immobile is expected to start up front, while MLS cult hero Sebastian Giovinco is capable of magic.

Shevchenko is enjoying variants of 4-4-1-1 and 4-1-4-1 with Ukraine lately. Both options allow his side cover at the back. They’ll look to pounce on the counter tonight, with Andriy Yarmolenko one to watch on the wing.

Goalscorer odds

Immobile, who has already scored five times in Serie A for Lazio this term, is the 7/2 favourite to score first.

He’s supported in the betting by Insigne and Giovinco, each at 5/1.

Yarmolenko is Ukraine’s shortest price player to break the deadlock at 9/1, with Roman Yaremchuk 11/1.

Click here for all our Italy v Ukraine odds.

Match info

When: 7.45pm

Where: Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa

How to watch: Sky Sports Football

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Richard Marsh

Richard loves his sport, especially if it involves the sound of tyres screaming around a race track. He's not fussy though and his '90s Premier League nostalgia and knowledge of team nicknames is tough to match.