Switzerland vs Italy Predictions

• Both teams have scored in five of the six games involving one of these teams.
• Switzerland have scored in six successive fixtures.
• Italy have scored in 14 of their last 16 competitive games.

Little to separate Switzerland and Italy

Italy claimed second place in Group B thanks to a last gasp goal against Croatia and their reward is a last 16 meeting with Group A runners-up Switzerland.

The Azzurri are the marginal favourites to win what should be a close game. Italy haven’t necessarily looked the part of defending champions just yet but they do have a knack of getting results in tournament football, while Murat Yakin managed to guide his Switzerland side through the group stage unbeaten.

I suspect Italy will progress but it will not be a straightforward affair against a Swiss side who held hosts Germany to a draw in their last game and comfortably overcame Hungary, and the standout selection our main tip is both teams to score.

Both attacks capable of scoring

Both teams have scored in all of Switzerland’s Euro 2024 games, while there have been goals at both ends in two of Italy’s three and they have conceded in all of their fiuxtures.

Switzerland have scored in six successive fixtures and their attack looks well balanced with Bologna pair Dan Ndoye and Michel Aebischer particularly catching the eye, while star forward Breel Embolo is now fit after playing a bit-part role in the opening games.

Italy’s attack perhaps hasn’t clicked into gear just yet and strikers Gianluca Scamacca and Mateo Retegui are yet to get off the mark. However, the Azzurri have scored in 14 of their last 16 competitive games and should be able to find a way through against Switzerland, who conceded in all their group games.

Extra time could be required

This looks like the kind of tie that may require extra time and potentially penalties as Switzerland are unbeaten in seven – but four of those games have finished all square and going back further they have seven stalemates in their last 11.

Italy have only picked up one win at Euro 2024 and that was a hard-fought 2-1 win over Albania, while Luciano Spalletti’s men have two draws in their last five games.

A 1-1 result looks a reasonable prediction as Italy have only managed three goals in as many games, while three of Switzerland’s last four games have ended with that scoreline.

Italy’s three goals have come from three different scorers and I’m backing a fourth man to join the party on Saturday in the shape of Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Pellegrini was arguably Italy’s star performer against Croatia and he has had a few chances at Euro 2024, with six attempts in total across three games. The 28-year-old chipped in with 10 goals for Roma from midfield last season and can open his account in Germany against the Swiss.

In terms of a potential Switzerland scorer, Dan Ndoye is worth a mention after his strike against Germany. Ndoye should know the Italy defence well as he plays his club football in Serie A, and he could also be worth considering for an attempt on target either as a single selection or as part of a bet builder.