Italy vs Greece Predictions

Group J runaway leaders Italy will be out to make it seven Euro 2020 qualification wins from seven when they host an out of form Greece outfit in Rome this weekend.

The Italians have coasted through Group J so far, making light work of their opponents in the section. and as a result the Azzurri already have one foot in next year’s European Championships Finals.

Italy scored an impressive 18 goals on their way to winning 100% of their six Group fixtures to date, though their three goals per game average was warped somewhat by their huge 6-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein on match day two.

Generally, the Italians goal-scoring return is quite modest and has been for a sustained period. Italy scored two or more goals in only three of their last 23 international fixtures overall since mid-2017, hitting one fewer goal in a notable 16 of the same contests.

But while their attacking play has lacked thrust of the past two years, the Italians continue to be one of the most defensively disciplined teams in international football.

Italy conceded just three times in their first six Group J qualification matches, and the Azzurri shipped more than one goal just three times in their last 23 matches in total since June 2017.

Their opponents this weekend Greece, have had to endure a bitterly disappointing Euro 2020 qualification campaign to date. The Greeks 2-0 win at Liechtenstein on match day one remains their only victory in Group J so far, and John van ‘t Schip’s men take a record of just two wins in ten matches overall into their tough fixture in Rome this weekend.

Italy were comfortable victors when they played Greece in the reverse group game between the teams in June, running out 3-0 winners after registering three times inside the space of ten first half minutes in Athens.

We expect Italy to ease to victory again against the Greeks this weekend, though we don’t envisage the winning margin to be quite so big.

Greece are rarely dismantled away from home – in fact, they have conceded more than two goals in only one of their last 20 international matches on the road.

With the Greeks’ well-established defensive robustness away from home and Italy’s modest goal-scoring figures, both major factors to consider, we think the home win and under 2.5 total goals combination looks the smartest avenue of approach for Saturday’s game. Our correct score prediction follows along the same lines, and we’re tipping Italy to win 2-0.